Placitas, NM: 14 Health Violations - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Placitas: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (14 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Drilling into federal monitoring figures for Placitas in NM, the pattern is middle-of-the-road - some utilities have documented MCL exceedances or treatment technique violations in recent years, while others have operated without a single flag, making the city's grade a genuine average rather than a rounded-down high.
How Placitas Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Placitas Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 28 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0022 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 24% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.99.
Who Supplies Your Water in Placitas
Federal drinking water records identify 5 systems in Placitas, NM. The leading 3 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations - so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Placitas, New Mexico, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 4,375 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 14 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Placitas: C (67/100)
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
Placitas water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0022 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 16 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 10 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87043 | C | 28 | 14 | La Mesa Water Coop |
All ZIP Codes in Placitas
- 87043 [C] - 28 violations ⚠
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.
Health Outcomes in Placitas
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 Placitas Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Placitas
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
A median build year of 1994 in Placitas points to a housing stock where post-1986 construction is the norm. That matters because lead solder in plumbing - banned federally in 1986 - is a primary pathway by which older homes can elevate tap water lead above what enters the distribution system.
Most homes in Placitas 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 Placitas Homeowners
In Placitas, documented water and safety issues can be addressed without making a meaningful dent in home equity - the financial proportionality here is favorable, and the commitment fits within standard property planning frameworks.
Remediation costs in Placitas are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,100–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 153% above the New Mexico average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Placitas
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.
Where pre-rule stock represents a smaller fraction of the inventory - 24% across Placitas - the structural drivers of household exposure run thinner. Aggregate readings under the federal benchmark reinforce that picture, with one-home draws remaining the only direct measurement for a specific address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Placitas
Historical NFIP data for Placitas contains 3 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $2,516. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$2,200</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.
What You Can Do in Placitas
- 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. Filters rated for Contaminant 0700 can reduce the most common contaminant found in Placitas's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Placitas, NM