Baytown, TX: 4 Health Violations — 78/100 (2026)
4 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
EPA compliance records for Baytown tell a largely clear story: violation rates are low, health-based exceedances are uncommon, and the city's grade puts it well above average within TX.
How Baytown Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Facts for Baytown Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 116 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0039 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 44% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,725 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.94.
Baytown's Water Providers
Federal drinking water records identify 10 systems in Baytown, TX. The leading 3 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations — so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Baytown, Texas, covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 130,055 people.
4 of 4 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Baytown: B (78/100)
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
Baytown water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0039 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): 4 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 50 | 4 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 45 | 4 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 15 | 4 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 4 |
| Selenium | Inorganic | 5 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77520 | B | 29 | 1 | City of Baytown |
| 77521 | B | 29 | 1 | City of Baytown |
| 77522 | B | 29 | 1 | City of Baytown |
| 77523 | B | 29 | 1 | City of Baytown |
All ZIP Codes in Baytown
- 77520 [B] — 29 violations ⚠
- 77521 [B] — 29 violations ⚠
- 77522 [B] — 29 violations ⚠
- 77523 [B] — 29 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.
Baytown Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Baytown's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Baytown Infrastructure Age
With 44% 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
Tap water lead levels are shaped by two factors: what the utility delivers, and what the household plumbing adds to it. Older homes contribute disproportionately to that second variable because lead solder was standard in copper plumbing before 1986, and lead pipes were common before 1970. In Baytown, where the median build year is 1989, a substantial share of the housing stock falls into these older categories. The bar chart above breaks out the pre-1970, 1970-to-1986, and post-1986 segments — the key ages for understanding where plumbing-era risk concentrates across the city.
Most homes in Baytown 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Baytown
For most Baytown homeowners, estimated remediation represents a moderate equity share — manageable with planning.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Baytown. The estimated $1,800–$4,100 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 4% below the Texas average.
Baytown: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
44% of Baytown housing dates to the pre-rule era, alongside aggregate readings hovering at the federal action mark — household-level confirmation through a draw-test kit fits the local picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Baytown: Flood History & Water Damage Risk
NFIP data for Baytown documents 4679 flood insurance claims across the program's multi-decade tracking period, with 100% of ZIP codes mapped into FEMA flood zones. That level of exposure creates compounding risk during major flood events: treatment systems can be overwhelmed, wells can be contaminated, and distribution infrastructure can suffer backflow — all pathways by which flood events degrade local water quality beyond the physical damage.
Baytown has a significant flood history with 4,679 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $38,460 per claim. With 100% 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>$2,725</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 Baytown, TX