Amarillo, TX: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 79/100
28 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Amarillo: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
For households in Amarillo, TX water data shows a consistently above-average safety picture.
How Amarillo Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Amarillo, TX
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Amarillo score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Amarillo Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 479 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,739 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.8 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Amarillo
At present, 3 utilities serve the bulk of Amarillo, TX's residential water connections out of 7 systems active in the area, spread across independent providers with separate infrastructure and compliance obligations.
- B
- B
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 28 ZIP codes in Amarillo, Texas, covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 236,165 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 14 of 28 ZIP codes.
14 of 14 ZIP codes 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 Amarillo: B (79/100)
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
Amarillo water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 14 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 28 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 242 | 3 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 70 | 3 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 62 | 3 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 45 | 14 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 44 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79118 | C | 465 | 3 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
| 79119 | B | 16 | 1 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
| 79124 | B | 15 | 1 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
| 79101 | — | 2 | 0 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
| 79102 | B | 2 | 0 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
| 79103 | — | 2 | 0 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
| 79104 | — | 2 | 0 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
| 79106 | B | 2 | 0 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
| 79107 | B | 2 | 0 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
| 79108 | B | 2 | 0 | Amarillo Municipal Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Amarillo
- 79101 - 2 violations
- 79102 [B] - 2 violations
- 79103 - 2 violations
- 79104 - 2 violations
- 79105
- 79106 [B] - 2 violations
- 79107 [B] - 2 violations
- 79108 [B] - 2 violations
- 79109 - 2 violations
- 79110 [B] - 2 violations
- 79111 - 2 violations
- 79114
- 79116
- 79117
- 79118 [C] - 465 violations ⚠
- 79119 [B] - 16 violations ⚠
- 79120
- 79121 - 2 violations
- 79124 [B] - 15 violations ⚠
- 79159
- 79166
- 79168
- 79172
- 79174
- 79178
- 79185
- 79187
- 79189
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.
Health Outcomes in Amarillo
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 Amarillo Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Amarillo Homeowners
The cost-to-value ratio in Amarillo is in the moderate range - neither dismissible nor alarming, but above the threshold where remediation can be treated as incidental. Most homeowners here are weighing a real equity commitment, and the moderate classification reflects that accurately.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Amarillo. The estimated $832–$2,954 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 33% below the Texas average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Amarillo
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.
Lead risk in Amarillo appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Amarillo
Historical NFIP data for Amarillo contains 635 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $18,199. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 39% 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>$1,739</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Amarillo, TX