Alvarado, TX: 4 Health Violations - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Alvarado: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Compared to top-scoring cities in TX, Alvarado lands in the middle tier - some water systems meet standards cleanly, others carry documented violations, and performance can vary significantly across service areas.
How Alvarado Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Alvarado Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 74 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0043 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 38% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.4 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Alvarado
Residential water service in Alvarado, TX is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 5 systems on file with federal regulators.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Alvarado, Texas (population ~21,130), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 113,663 people region-wide. 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. 4 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Alvarado: 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
Alvarado water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0043 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 18 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 16 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Selenium | Inorganic | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76009 | C | 74 | 4 | Johnson County Special Utility District |
All ZIP Codes in Alvarado
- 76009 [C] - 74 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.
CDC Health Data for Alvarado
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Alvarado
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Alvarado's Housing Stock?
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
What does a median build year of 1996 mean for water safety in Alvarado? It means the housing stock straddles two key plumbing thresholds: the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in copper plumbing, and the pre-1970 era when lead pipes were commonly installed for service lines. A meaningful share of homes predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating varied risk levels across the city's housing inventory.
Most homes in Alvarado were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Alvarado: Remediation Cost in Perspective
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Alvarado, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Alvarado are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 8% below the Texas average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Alvarado
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.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 38% of Alvarado stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Alvarado
Historical NFIP data for Alvarado contains 27 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $25,814. 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 <strong>$1,800</strong> 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 Alvarado
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Lead and Copper Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Alvarado's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 38% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Alvarado, TX