Taos, NM: 22 Health Violations - Home Safety 50/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Taos: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (22 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
The grade shown for Taos, NM falls at D or F, taken from the average of the composite Home Safety Scores of the city's scored ZIP codes. That composite can draw on several kinds of data, such as drinking water records, radon zone designations, PFAS monitoring and air quality, so a low grade does not by itself show which factor weighed most or what any single tap delivers. The report for your own ZIP code is the place to look at the pieces behind the number where you live.
How Taos Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Taos Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 61 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.005 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 61% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.05.
Taos's Water Providers
Multiple utilities show up for Taos, NM: 3 are listed here out of 5 tracked federally.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Taos, New Mexico, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 12,544 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. 22 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Taos: D (50/100)
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
Taos water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0050 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 1.
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 | 36 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 28 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 16 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 12 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87571 | D | 61 | 22 | Taos Municipal Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Taos
- 87571 [D] - 61 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.
Taos Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Taos's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Taos Infrastructure Age
With 61% 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
Median construction year in Taos: 1989, set against the 1986 federal lead limits for new plumbing.
Over half of homes in Taos 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Taos
Relative to home values, Taos remediation estimates run low.
Estimated remediation costs in Taos 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 103% above the New Mexico average.
Taos: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Taos: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Taos contains 6 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $1,055. 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 Taos
- 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 Taos: 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. With 61% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Taos, NM