Desdemona, TX Water Safety: 66/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Desdemona shows moderate tap water quality for TX — some areas carry documented EPA violations while others meet standards without issues.
How Desdemona Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Desdemona Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 77% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- CDC health risk index: 14.35 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Desdemona
Residential addresses in Desdemona, TX are served by 3 primary water providers out of 3 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 1 ZIP code in Desdemona, Texas (population ~363), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 6,749 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Desdemona — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Desdemona: C (66/100)
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
Desdemona water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Desdemona
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76445 | C | CITY OF GORMAN | 1,051 |
All ZIP Codes in Desdemona
- 76445 [C]
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.
CDC Health Data for Desdemona
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
How Old Is Desdemona's Housing Stock?
With 77% 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, Desdemona is predominantly an older city — a median build year of 1901 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Desdemona 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.
Protecting Children from Lead in Desdemona
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 Desdemona — 77% 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.
What You Can Do in Desdemona
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 77% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Desdemona, TX