Abilene, TX: 20 Health Violations — 86/100 (2026)
10 ZIP codes · 13 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
How does Abilene tap water hold up under EPA scrutiny? Above average for TX — documented violations are uncommon and the safety grade reflects a clean overall record.
How Abilene Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Abilene, TX
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Abilene score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Abilene Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 170 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0012 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 55% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,730 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.08 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Abilene
Residential addresses in Abilene, TX are served by 3 primary water providers out of 13 systems in federal records. Each system maintains separate infrastructure and files its own EPA compliance reports, so service conditions are not uniform across the city.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 10 ZIP codes in Abilene, Texas, covering 13 community water systems serving approximately 135,187 people.
10 of 10 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 20 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Abilene: A (86/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Abilene water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0012 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 10 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 44 | 10 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 33 | 10 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 22 | 10 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 22 | 10 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 22 | 10 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79601 | B | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
| 79602 | A | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
| 79603 | B | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
| 79604 | A | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
| 79605 | B | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
| 79606 | B | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
| 79608 | A | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
| 79697 | A | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
| 79698 | A | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
| 79699 | A | 17 | 2 | City of Abilene |
All ZIP Codes in Abilene
- 79601 [B] — 17 violations ⚠
- 79602 [A] — 17 violations ⚠
- 79603 [B] — 17 violations ⚠
- 79604 [A] — 17 violations ⚠
- 79605 [B] — 17 violations ⚠
- 79606 [B] — 17 violations ⚠
- 79608 [A] — 17 violations ⚠
- 79697 [A] — 17 violations ⚠
- 79698 [A] — 17 violations ⚠
- 79699 [A] — 17 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
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Abilene
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 Abilene Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Abilene
With 55% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder 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, Abilene is predominantly an older city — a median build year of 1972 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Abilene were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Abilene Homeowners
In Abilene, 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 Abilene are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,100–$2,630 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 20% below the Texas average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Abilene
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.
Practically, the structural drivers in Abilene — 55% pre-rule stock and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory benchmark — make an in-home draw the practical way to translate aggregate averages into the specific conditions at one address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Abilene
Decades of documented flood activity appear in Abilene's NFIP record — 896 insurance claims filed and 70% of ZIP codes carrying FEMA flood designations. The scale of that record puts water infrastructure vulnerability from flooding into the concrete-risk category.
Abilene has a significant flood history with 896 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $16,928 per claim. With 70% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,730</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Abilene, TX