Ruidoso, NM: 2 Health Violations - Home Safety 80/100
2 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Ruidoso: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Looking at federal compliance records for Ruidoso, NM: the city earns a grade in the top two bands here, and each serving system's violation history can be reviewed individually for what lies behind it.
How Ruidoso Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Ruidoso Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 8 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.011 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 51% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $800 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.13.
Water Systems Serving Ruidoso
Service in Ruidoso, NM can differ by address: 5 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Ruidoso, New Mexico (population ~8,005), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 21,076 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Ruidoso: B (80/100)
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
Ruidoso water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0110 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
2 of 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88345 | B | 8 | 2 | Ruidoso Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Ruidoso
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.
CDC Health Data for Ruidoso
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Ruidoso
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Ruidoso's Housing Stock?
With 51% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Ruidoso has a median build year of 1991; houses completed ahead of 1986 can hold lead-bearing solder or fittings.
Over half of homes in Ruidoso were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Ruidoso: Remediation Cost in Perspective
How large is the remediation estimate next to home prices in Ruidoso? 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 Ruidoso can be compared with local home values. The $450–$1,400 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 13% above the New Mexico average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Ruidoso
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.
In Ruidoso, the average of the 90th-percentile lead results reported for its ZIP codes is at least 0.010 mg/L, the concentration EPA's 2024 rule sets as the lead action level for each water system's own 90th-percentile result starting in November 2027, not for an area average. No single system's compliance follows from this figure, and 51% of local homes predate 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Ruidoso
Historical NFIP data for Ruidoso contains 238 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $81,075. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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 $800 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 Ruidoso, NM