CITY REPORT NM HEALTH VIOLATIONS: 1

Rio Rancho, NM: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 78/100

3 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Rio Rancho: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

In the dataset behind this page, Rio Rancho, NM receives one of the two highest grades; read the compliance history system by system for details.

How Rio Rancho Compares

Rio Rancho78/100
New Mexico avg66/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

3
ZIP Codes
2
Water Systems
2
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
B · 78
Avg Safety Score
Zone 2
County Radon Potential (Moderate)
$281K
Median Home Value
$300
Est. Remediation (0.1% of home value)

Rio Rancho Water: The Quick Version

  • Your city's water systems recorded 7 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0012 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 23% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.98.

Water Systems Serving Rio Rancho

When a city is linked to 2 water systems, as Rio Rancho, NM is in federal records, water in one neighborhood may come from a different system than in another. The 2 systems with the largest reported populations are shown below, and their compliance records are kept separately, so a violation logged for one does not describe the others.

Overview

We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 108,378 people. 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Rio Rancho: B (78/100)

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

Rio Rancho water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0012 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

1 of 3 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 1. 2 of 3 ZIP records with known zones are 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
Public Notice Rule Reporting 4 1
Groundwater Rule Treatment Technique 3 2
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 2 1
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 2 1
E. coli Microbiological 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
87144 B 7 1 Rio Rancho Water & Ww Services
87124 B 1 1 Rio Rancho Water & Ww Services

All ZIP Codes in Rio Rancho

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

CDC Health Data for Rio Rancho

9.7%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
11.7%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
15.4%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

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

Asthma 9.7% ↓
Diabetes 11.7% ↑
Mental Health 15.4% ↑

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

Key Contaminants Detected in Rio Rancho

Public Notice Rule 4 violations
Reporting
Groundwater Rule 3 violations
Treatment Technique
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 2 violations
Disinfection Byproducts · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 0.06 mg/L
Increased cancer risk with long-term exposure above the MCL

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

How Old Is Rio Rancho's Housing Stock?

2002
Median Build Year
23%
Built Before 1986
3%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

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 Rio Rancho center on a median of 2002, and the Census figures behind it describe when homes were built, not what materials they contain.

2002
Median Year Built
23%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
3%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (3%) 1970–1986 (20%) Post-1986 (77%)

Most homes in Rio Rancho 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.

Rio Rancho: Remediation Cost in Perspective

In Rio Rancho, estimated remediation comes to 1% or less of the median home value.

Median Home Value
$280,600
Est. Remediation
$300
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in Rio Rancho can be compared with local home values. The $150–$600 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 36% above the New Mexico average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Rio Rancho

23%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0012
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

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.

No safe blood lead level in children has been identified, according to CDC, so an area average under 0.010 mg/L does not rule out exposure at home. In Rio Rancho, 23% of homes were built before 1986.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Rio Rancho

8
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$8,454
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
0%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Rio Rancho contains 8 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,454. 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 $300 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 Rio Rancho, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Rio Rancho, NM?
Rio Rancho has an average Home Safety Score of 78/100 (Grade B) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 7 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving Rio Rancho?
EPA records list 7 EPA violations, including 1 health-based violation for Rio Rancho water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 3 mapped ZIP codes.
Does Rio Rancho water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Rio Rancho is 0.0012 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Rio Rancho compare to New Mexico average?
Rio Rancho has an average Home Safety Score of 78/100, which is at or above the New Mexico state average of 66/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Rio Rancho?
Our records map 2 water systems to 3 ZIP codes in Rio Rancho. The related population figure in our data is approximately 108,378 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Rio Rancho?
Estimated remediation cost per household in Rio Rancho: $300; modeled range $150 to $600. Estimated costs may include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, or flood protection where applicable.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Rio Rancho, NM: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 78/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/nm/rio-rancho/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-nm-rio-rancho,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Rio Rancho, NM: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 78/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/nm/rio-rancho/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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