La Plata, NM: 1 Violation — 83/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Based on current monitoring, La Plata holds an above-average drinking water safety record for NM — violations are infrequent and typically minor when they do appear.
How La Plata Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About La Plata Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 1 violation in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0006 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 29% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.45 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in La Plata
Residential water service in La Plata, NM is divided among 2 separate utilities, drawn from 2 systems on file with federal regulators.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in La Plata, New Mexico (population ~947), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 6,049 people region-wide.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for La Plata: B (83/100)
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
La Plata water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0006 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87418 | B | 1 | 0 | Upper La Plata Water Users Association |
All ZIP Codes in La Plata
- 87418 [B] — 1 violation
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.
Health Outcomes in La Plata
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
Top Contaminants in La Plata Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in La Plata
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
Banned from residential plumbing in 1986, lead solder was a near-universal feature of copper plumbing before that cutoff. In La Plata, where the median build year is 1995, the majority of housing falls into the post-ban category — though the older fraction of the stock still carries the residual risk that comes with pre-1986 pipe and solder materials.
Most homes in La Plata 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for La Plata Homeowners
The household financial perspective in La Plata reflects a moderate cost-to-value ratio — an equity share that is not trivially small but remains within the range where most homeowners can address documented water and safety issues by treating the expense as a real line item in property planning rather than a discretionary one.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in La Plata. The estimated $1,200–$3,300 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 3% below the New Mexico average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in La Plata
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.
Despite citywide averages reading cleanly under the federal action threshold, the way utilities pull samples — from a representative subset rather than door-to-door — leaves room for individual buildings with older interior lines to behave differently than the aggregate suggests. With only 29% of La Plata stock predating the solder rule, that residual subset is small but real, and a draw-test kit gives the only direct read on what comes out of one faucet on a given morning.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in La Plata
Taken together, La Plata's 1 NFIP flood insurance claim and 100% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open — surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow — are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.
La Plata has a moderate flood history with 1 FEMA claims averaging $30,679 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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>$2,200</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for La Plata, NM