CITY REPORT LA 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Baton Rouge, LA: 2 Health Violations - 92/100

42 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Baton Rouge: A.

No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.

Within Baton Rouge, safety indicators for tap water remain above the LA median - documented violations are infrequent and the city's compliance record sits in the upper tier.

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS

42
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems
6
ZIPs with Violations
A · 92
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
Radon Risk (Low)

Key Facts for Baton Rouge Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 6 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.

Water Quality in Baton Rouge

We track home safety signals for 42 ZIP codes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. EPA community-water data is directly mapped for 19 ZIP codes and 4 water systems.

6 of 19 directly mapped ZIP records with reported violation counts (32%) have recorded EPA violations - 6 total, including 2 health-based violations.

Average Home Safety Score: A (92/100)

Water sources: Groundwater.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 4 4
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 2 2

Lead Risk

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L
  • 0 of 19 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
  • 55% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
  • 6% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
  • Median year built: 1980
  • Most common estimated pipe material: Copper
  • Lead exposure risk score: 36/100
  • Estimated lead service line probability: 17%
  • 7 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 55% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, Baton Rouge residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.

Housing Age Distribution

177,381 total housing units across 42 ZIP codes:

Era Units Share
Pre-1940 6,122 3%
1940–1949 6,866 4%
1950–1959 14,252 8%
1960–1969 22,111 12%
1970–1979 34,586 19%
1980–1989 29,738 17%
1990–1999 21,243 12%
2000–2009 21,512 12%
2010–2019 20,009 11%
2020+ 942 1%

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for Baton Rouge:

  • 18,126 flood insurance claims on record
  • $1,045,600,420 sum of reported building, contents, and ICC payment components
  • 15,756 claims with payment data
  • 2,370 claims without reported payment fields
  • $66,362 average reported component sum among claims with payment data
  • Dominant rated-zone value in historical claims: AE (A/V-family)
  • 24 of 29 ZIP codes with claim-zone records have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims
  • Claim-zone values are historical insurance records, not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory

Radon Risk

Dominant EPA radon zone among 42 ZIP records with zone data: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

  • Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 3 (Low): 42 ZIP codes

Neighborhoods by Safety Score

Safest Areas

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
70801 92/100 A 0
70802 92/100 A 0
70803 92/100 A 0
70805 92/100 A 0
70806 92/100 A 0
70808 92/100 A 0
70809 92/100 A 0
70810 92/100 A 0
70812 92/100 A 0
70815 92/100 A 0

Areas Needing Attention

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
70819 91/100 A 1
70817 91/100 A 1
70816 91/100 A 1
70814 91/100 A 1
70811 91/100 A 1
70807 91/100 A 1
70836 92/100 A 0
70820 92/100 A 0
70818 92/100 A 0

What Baton Rouge Residents Can Do

Test Your Water

  • Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
  • Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
  • Check your ZIP code - each area in Baton Rouge has different water systems and risk levels

Filter Your Water

  • NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
  • NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
  • Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)

Stay Informed

All ZIP Codes in Baton Rouge

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water safe to drink in Baton Rouge, LA?

The Home Safety Score is not a drinking-water grade. Baton Rouge has an average score of 92/100 (grade A) across 19 ZIP codes with complete current-model evidence. Separately, there are 6 recorded EPA violations across 19 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts, 2 of which are health-based. Check the specific ZIP and serving utility before drawing a water-safety conclusion.

Does Baton Rouge have lead in the water?

The average 90th-percentile lead level across Baton Rouge is 0.0010 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. 0 of 19 ZIP codes with known action-level status exceed the EPA limit. About 55% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.

Is Baton Rouge at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 18,126 flood insurance claim records in Baton Rouge ZIP codes, with an average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum of $66,362 among 15,756 claims with payment data. 2,370 claims lack reported payment fields and are not counted as zero. Among 29 ZIP codes with historical claim-zone values, 24 have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims. Claim records do not establish current property-level flood risk; check the FEMA map for a specific address.

Are there lead pipes in Baton Rouge homes?

55% of Baton Rouge housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 6% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 17%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

What contaminants have been found in Baton Rouge water?

The most common contaminants by violation count are Stage 1 DBP Rule, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). Across 19 ZIP codes with directly mapped EPA water data, 6 have recorded EPA violations. Check your ZIP code report for the specific contaminants in your area.

Data Sources

Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.

Baton Rouge Infrastructure Age

1980
Median Build Year
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

Post-1986 construction is where the lower lead-solder risk lives, because that's when the federal ban on lead solder in plumbing took effect. In Baton Rouge, where the median build year is 1980, the housing stock falls broadly on the newer side of that threshold - a distribution that moderates aggregate plumbing-era risk compared to older housing markets.

1980
Median Year Built
0%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
0%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in Baton Rouge were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Baton Rouge: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

0.001
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

Lead risk in Baton Rouge appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Baton Rouge: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

18,126
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$66,362
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
83%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Baton Rouge contains 18,126 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $66,362. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 83% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure.

Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.

Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Baton Rouge, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Baton Rouge, LA?
Baton Rouge has an average Home Safety Score of 92/100 (Grade A) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. 6 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does Baton Rouge have?
Baton Rouge water systems have a total of 6 EPA violations, including 2 health-based violations. Violations are tracked across 42 ZIP codes.
Does Baton Rouge water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Baton Rouge is 0.001 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How many water systems serve Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge is served by 4 public water systems across 42 ZIP codes, serving approximately 386,722 people.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Baton Rouge, LA: 2 Health Violations - 92/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/la/baton-rouge/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-la-baton-rouge,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Baton Rouge, LA: 2 Health Violations - 92/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/la/baton-rouge/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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