CITY REPORT LA 61 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

New Orleans, LA: 61 Health Violations - 82/100

62 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for New Orleans: B.

This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.

Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (61 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →

Residents of New Orleans generally live with tap water that beats the LA safety average on key EPA compliance metrics.

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS

62
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems
18
ZIPs with Violations
B · 82
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
Radon Risk (Low)

What You Should Know About New Orleans Water

  • Your city's water systems recorded 122 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.0061 mg/L.

Water Quality in New Orleans

We track home safety signals for 62 ZIP codes in New Orleans, Louisiana. EPA community-water data is directly mapped for 20 ZIP codes and 5 water systems.

18 of 20 directly mapped ZIP records with reported violation counts (90%) have recorded EPA violations - 122 total, including 61 health-based violations.

Average Home Safety Score: B (82/100)

Water sources: Surface water.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Chlorite Disinfection Byproducts 60 18
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 36 18
Fecal Coliform Microbiological 25 18
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 1

Lead Risk

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0061 mg/L
  • 0 of 20 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
  • 75% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
  • 34% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
  • Median year built: 1948
  • Most common estimated pipe material: Copper
  • Lead exposure risk score: 66/100
  • Estimated lead service line probability: 23%
  • 19 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 75% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, New Orleans 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

214,688 total housing units across 62 ZIP codes:

Era Units Share
Pre-1940 64,566 30%
1940–1949 15,447 7%
1950–1959 27,153 13%
1960–1969 23,590 11%
1970–1979 30,757 14%
1980–1989 18,041 8%
1990–1999 8,251 4%
2000–2009 15,632 7%
2010–2019 10,851 5%
2020+ 400 0%

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for New Orleans:

  • 137,966 flood insurance claims on record
  • $7,497,849,783 sum of reported building, contents, and ICC payment components
  • 113,283 claims with payment data
  • 24,683 claims without reported payment fields
  • $66,187 average reported component sum among claims with payment data
  • Dominant rated-zone value in historical claims: B (B/X-family)
  • 28 of 49 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 62 ZIP records with zone data: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

  • Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 3 (Low): 62 ZIP codes

Neighborhoods by Safety Score

Safest Areas

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
70121 100/100 A 0
70123 100/100 A 0
70112 82/100 B 4
70113 82/100 B 4
70115 82/100 B 4
70116 82/100 B 4
70118 82/100 B 4
70119 82/100 B 4
70122 82/100 B 4
70124 82/100 B 4

Areas Needing Attention

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
70131 77/100 B 11
70129 77/100 B 11
70128 77/100 B 11
70127 77/100 B 11
70126 77/100 B 11
70117 77/100 B 11
70114 77/100 B 12
70148 82/100 B 4
70130 82/100 B 4
70125 82/100 B 4

What New Orleans 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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water safe to drink in New Orleans, LA?

The Home Safety Score is not a drinking-water grade. New Orleans has an average score of 82/100 (grade B) across 20 ZIP codes with complete current-model evidence. Separately, there are 122 recorded EPA violations across 20 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts, 61 of which are health-based. Check the specific ZIP and serving utility before drawing a water-safety conclusion.

Does New Orleans have lead in the water?

The average 90th-percentile lead level across New Orleans is 0.0061 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. 0 of 20 ZIP codes with known action-level status exceed the EPA limit. About 75% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.

Is New Orleans at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 137,966 flood insurance claim records in New Orleans ZIP codes, with an average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum of $66,187 among 113,283 claims with payment data. 24,683 claims lack reported payment fields and are not counted as zero. Among 49 ZIP codes with historical claim-zone values, 28 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 New Orleans homes?

75% of New Orleans housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 34% 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 23%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

What contaminants have been found in New Orleans water?

The most common contaminants by violation count are Chlorite, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Fecal Coliform. Across 20 ZIP codes with directly mapped EPA water data, 18 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.

Housing & Infrastructure in New Orleans

1948
Median Build Year
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

Median build year of 1948 means many homes predate lead paint and lead solder regulations. Consider testing if your home has original plumbing.

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

Housing Age Profile

Congress banned lead solder in residential plumbing in 1986, drawing a clear line in housing risk by era. New Orleans's median build year of 1948 puts most of its residential stock on the newer side of that boundary - a profile that generally correlates with lower plumbing-sourced lead exposure across the city.

1948
Median Year Built
0%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
0%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in New Orleans 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.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in New Orleans

0.0061
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 New Orleans 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.

Historical NFIP Claim Context in New Orleans

137,966
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$66,187
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
57%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for New Orleans contains 137,966 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $66,187. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 57% 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 New Orleans, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for New Orleans, LA?
New Orleans has an average Home Safety Score of 82/100 (Grade B) 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. 122 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does New Orleans have?
New Orleans water systems have a total of 122 EPA violations, including 61 health-based violations. Violations are tracked across 62 ZIP codes.
Does New Orleans water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in New Orleans is 0.0061 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 New Orleans?
New Orleans is served by 5 public water systems across 62 ZIP codes, serving approximately 414,097 people.
Home → Cities → Louisiana → New Orleans, LA

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). New Orleans, LA: 61 Health Violations - 82/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/la/new-orleans/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-la-new-orleans,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{New Orleans, LA: 61 Health Violations - 82/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/la/new-orleans/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

Get safety alerts for New Orleans, Louisiana

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Violations found - check filter options Free tool - no phone call required.