Greenwell Springs, LA: High Radon Risk — 37/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Drinking water quality in Greenwell Springs has lagged behind LA benchmarks — documented violations keep the safety grade low.
How Greenwell Springs Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Greenwell Springs Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 40% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.32 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Greenwell Springs
Residential addresses in Greenwell Springs, LA are served by 3 primary water providers out of 3 systems in federal records. Each system maintains separate infrastructure and files its own EPA compliance reports, so service conditions are not uniform across the city.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Greenwell Springs, Louisiana (population ~13,714), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 696,075 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Greenwell Springs — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Greenwell Springs: F (37/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Greenwell Springs water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Greenwell Springs
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70739 | F | WARD II WATER DISTRICT | 73,506 |
All ZIP Codes in Greenwell Springs
- 70739 [F]
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Greenwell Springs
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
How Old Is Greenwell Springs's Housing Stock?
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
Two regulatory milestones define plumbing-era risk in residential housing: 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines, and 1986, when lead solder was banned from new copper plumbing. A median build year of 1997 places Greenwell Springs in the middle zone between those thresholds — with a meaningful share of housing predating both cutoffs. The distribution shown above breaks out those eras explicitly, clarifying where concentrated risk sits across the residential inventory.
Most homes in Greenwell Springs 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.
Greenwell Springs: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Property equity in Greenwell Springs runs well ahead of estimated remediation costs — a cost-to-value ratio that sits in the low tier, meaning documented water and safety issues here are the kind homeowners can plan to address without treating the expense as a significant budget event relative to what their homes are worth.
Remediation costs in Greenwell Springs are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,800–$4,000 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 73% above the Louisiana average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Greenwell Springs
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 40% of the Greenwell Springs inventory was built in that earlier era — a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Greenwell Springs
The NFIP record for Greenwell Springs is not ambiguous: 1577 claims filed and 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood territory add up to a substantial flood exposure profile. For a water quality assessment, that profile matters because flooding doesn't just damage property — it can temporarily compromise the systems that deliver safe drinking water, from overwhelmed treatment plants to infiltrated private wells to backflow events in distribution infrastructure.
Greenwell Springs has a significant flood history with 1,577 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $82,480 per claim. With 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,500</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Greenwell Springs
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 40% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Greenwell Springs, LA