CITY REPORT TX HEALTH VIOLATIONS: 4

El Paso, TX: 4 Health-Based Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems - 78/100

138 ZIP codes · 11 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for El Paso: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

Across El Paso, TX, the overall grade falls in the upper range - a summary score, not a measurement taken at any single tap.

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS

138
ZIP Codes
11
Water Systems
22
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
B · 78
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
County Radon Potential (Low)

El Paso Water: The Quick Version

  • Your city's water systems recorded 116 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0008 mg/L.

Water Quality in El Paso

We track home safety signals for 138 ZIP codes in El Paso, Texas. EPA community-water data is directly mapped for 22 ZIP codes and 11 water systems.

22 of 22 directly mapped ZIP records with reported violation counts (100%) have recorded EPA violations - 116 total, including 4 health-based violations.

Average Home Safety Score: B (78/100)

Water sources: Groundwater, Surface water.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Chlorite Disinfection Byproducts 42 21
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 28 22
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 15 8
Public Notice Rule Reporting 14 6
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 9 5

Lead Risk

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0008 mg/L
  • 0 of 22 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
  • 54% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
  • 11% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
  • Median year built: 1981
  • Most common estimated pipe material: Copper
  • Lead exposure risk score: 32/100
  • Estimated lead service line probability: 16%
  • 7 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 54% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, El Paso residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.

Housing Age Distribution

301,150 total housing units across 138 ZIP codes:

Era Units Share
Pre-1940 12,815 4%
1940–1949 9,003 3%
1950–1959 29,606 10%
1960–1969 28,543 9%
1970–1979 44,806 15%
1980–1989 43,375 14%
1990–1999 39,218 13%
2000–2009 45,288 15%
2010–2019 46,255 15%
2020+ 2,241 1%

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for El Paso:

  • 765 flood insurance claims on record
  • $6,097,281 sum of reported building, contents, and ICC payment components
  • 364 claims with payment data
  • 401 claims without reported payment fields
  • $16,751 average reported component sum among claims with payment data
  • Dominant rated-zone value in historical claims: C (other)
  • 11 of 19 ZIP codes with claim-zone records have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims
  • Claim-zone values are historical insurance records, not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory

Radon Risk

138 of 138 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.

Neighborhoods by Safety Score

Safest Areas

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
79906 91/100 A 3
79908 91/100 A 2
79930 91/100 A 3
79928 84/100 B 13
79901 74/100 B 3
79902 74/100 B 3
79904 74/100 B 3
79912 74/100 B 3
79915 74/100 B 3
79924 74/100 B 3

Areas Needing Attention

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
79938 70/100 B 9
79927 72/100 B 7
79936 73/100 B 5
79935 74/100 B 3

What El Paso Residents Can Do

Test Your Water

  • Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
  • Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
  • Check your ZIP code - each area in El Paso has different water systems and risk levels

Filter Your Water

  • NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
  • NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
  • Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)

Stay Informed

All ZIP Codes in El Paso

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water safe to drink in El Paso, TX?

The Home Safety Score is not a drinking-water grade. El Paso has an average score of 78/100 (grade B) across 14 ZIP codes with complete current-model evidence. Separately, there are 116 recorded EPA violations across 22 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts, 4 of which are health-based. Check the specific ZIP and serving utility before drawing a water-safety conclusion.

Does El Paso have lead in the water?

The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of El Paso is 0.0008 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. 0 of 22 ZIP codes with known action-level status are served by a system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeded the EPA action level. About 54% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.

Is El Paso at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 765 flood insurance claim records in El Paso ZIP codes, with an average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum of $16,751 among 364 claims with payment data. 401 claims lack reported payment fields and are not counted as zero. Among 19 ZIP codes with historical claim-zone values, 11 have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims. Claim records do not establish current property-level flood risk; check the FEMA map for a specific address.

Are there lead pipes in El Paso homes?

54% of El Paso housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 11% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 16%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

What contaminants have been found in El Paso water?

The most common contaminants by violation count are Chlorite, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Stage 1 DBP Rule. Across 22 ZIP codes with directly mapped EPA water data, 22 have recorded EPA violations. Check your ZIP code report for the specific contaminants in your area.

Data Sources

Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.

How Old Is El Paso's Housing Stock?

1981
Median Build Year
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

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

1981
Median Year Built
N/A
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
0%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in El Paso 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.

Protecting Children from Lead in El Paso

0.0008
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

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.

Available area-level lead records for El Paso do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. 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 Flood-Claim Evidence for El Paso

765
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$16,751
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
58%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for El Paso contains 765 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $16,751. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 58% 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.

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 El Paso, TX

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for El Paso, TX?
El Paso has an average Home Safety Score of 78/100 (Grade B) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 116 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving El Paso?
EPA records list 116 EPA violations, including 4 health-based violations for El Paso water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 138 mapped ZIP codes.
Does El Paso water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of El Paso is 0.0008 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How many water systems serve El Paso?
Our records map 11 water systems to 138 ZIP codes in El Paso. The related population figure in our data is approximately 815,636 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). El Paso, TX: 4 Health-Based Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems - 78/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/tx/el-paso/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-tx-el-paso,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{El Paso, TX: 4 Health-Based Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems - 78/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/tx/el-paso/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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