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: match a filter's certification to the violations (14 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Placitas lands in the middle of the grade scale in NM; EPA records can differ from one service area to the next.
How Placitas Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Placitas Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 28 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0022 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 24% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.99.
Who Supplies Your Water in Placitas
Counting every public water system linked to Placitas, NM in federal data gives 5. The list below keeps the 3 largest by reported population served, a figure that covers each system's whole service area rather than the city alone. A household's own supplier is named on its water bill.
- 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 of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 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
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater Rule | Treatment Technique | 16 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 12 | 1 |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 10 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 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). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
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
Construction dates in Placitas center on a median of 1994, and the Census figures behind it describe when homes were built, not what materials they contain.
Most homes in Placitas were built after 1986; lead exposure at a tap still depends on its service line and plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Placitas Homeowners
How large is the remediation estimate next to home prices in Placitas? Small in relative terms: it amounts to 1% of the median value or less, although the dollar figure below is still an estimate and actual costs vary by property and contractor.
Estimated remediation costs in Placitas can be compared with local home values. The $300–$1,500 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. 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 that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
For families with young children in Placitas, two area figures are available: pre-1986 construction at about 24%, and a mean of the ZIP codes' 90th-percentile lead results under 0.010 mg/L. Testing water from the tap a child drinks from gives a home-specific result.
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 $600 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. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Groundwater Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Placitas: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- 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