Brownsville, TX: 7 Health Violations - Home Safety 73/100
5 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Brownsville: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (7 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Looking at federal compliance records for Brownsville, TX: the city earns a grade in the top two bands here, and each serving system's violation history can be reviewed individually for what lies behind it.
How Brownsville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Brownsville Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 8 violations since 2021.
- Homes built before 1986: 36% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $800 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.2.
Brownsville's Water Providers
Counting every public water system linked to Brownsville, TX in federal data gives 6. The list below keeps the 3 largest by reported population served, a figure that covers each system's whole service area rather than the city alone. A household's own supplier is named on its water bill.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Brownsville, Texas, covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 210,916 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 5 ZIP codes.
2 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (67%) have recorded EPA violations. 7 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Brownsville: B (73/100)
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
Brownsville water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: reported as 0 mg/L (a reported 0 is not proof of no lead; check the source record for its reporting limit) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
5 of 5 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 3.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 8 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 7 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78520 | B | 8 | 7 | Brownsville Public Utilities Board |
| 78526 | B | 1 | 1 | Brownsville Public Utilities Board |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78521 | B | Brownsville Public Utilities Board | 201,249 |
All ZIP Codes in Brownsville
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.
Brownsville 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 Brownsville's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Brownsville Infrastructure Age
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
When a home in Brownsville was built matters for lead because federal rules adopted in 1986 limited how much lead new plumbing could contain; the local median build year is 1990. A median sits in the middle of a range, so some homes are older and some newer, and past repairs may have changed the pipes in either group. A plumber can identify the materials inside a home, and a lab test measures what reaches the tap.
Most homes in Brownsville were built after 1986; lead exposure at a tap still depends on its service line and plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Brownsville
Low tier for Brownsville: remediation estimated at up to 1% of what homes are worth.
Estimated remediation costs in Brownsville can be compared with local home values. The $450–$1,500 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 43% below the Texas average.
Brownsville: 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.
Brownsville: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Brownsville contains 1,009 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $17,279. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 40% 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 $800 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 Brownsville, TX