Sulphur, LA: 12 Health Violations - Home Safety 83/100
3 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Sulphur: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (12 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Sulphur tap water earns a high safety grade - above-average compliance with LA and federal standards.
How Sulphur Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Sulphur Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 16 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.002 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 45% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.91 - above typical levels.
Sulphur's Water Providers
7 water systems are tracked federally in Sulphur, LA. The top 3 providers collectively serve most residential addresses, but because they operate independently, infrastructure maintenance standards and compliance histories differ from one service zone to another.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Sulphur, Louisiana (population ~42,402), covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 136,222 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 3 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 12 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Sulphur: B (83/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Sulphur water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0020 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 3 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 28 | 2 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70663 | B | 16 | 12 | Sulphur City of Water System |
| 70665 | B | 9 | 7 | Calcasieu Parish Ww District 9 Carlyss |
All ZIP Codes in Sulphur
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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Sulphur Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Sulphur's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Sulphur Infrastructure Age
With 45% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
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 1989 places Sulphur 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 Sulphur 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Sulphur
Placing remediation in the context of Sulphur's property market, the equity share is low - most homeowners here are weighing a financial commitment that fits comfortably within routine property planning, far from the threshold where remediation becomes a material equity decision rather than a standard upkeep consideration.
Remediation costs in Sulphur are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,083–$2,633 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 35% above the Louisiana average.
Sulphur: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 45% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Sulphur.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Sulphur: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Sulphur contains 1,468 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $28,285. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% 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. The <strong>$1,700</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
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 Sulphur, LA