Fred, TX Water Safety: 73/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Fred, EPA monitoring data shows low violation rates and healthy safety margins — a pattern that places the city well above TX's average for drinking water compliance across recent reporting cycles.
How Fred Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Fred Water
- Homes built before 1986: 23% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 15.75 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Fred
The structure of water supply in Fred, TX is straightforward: one utility provides the bulk of residential service among 1 tracked system, concentrating rate-setting and infrastructure decisions under a single organization.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Fred, Texas (population ~859), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 5,872 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Fred — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Fred: B (73/100)
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
Fred water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Fred
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77616 | B | TYLER COUNTY SUD | 5,872 |
All ZIP Codes in Fred
- 77616 [B]
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.
Health Outcomes in Fred
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Fred
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
Newer construction dominates Fred's residential inventory, as reflected in a median build year of 1994. The practical implication is that lead-soldered copper plumbing joints — a pre-1986 standard now federally prohibited — are an exception rather than the rule in this city, though they remain present in the older fraction of the housing stock.
Most homes in Fred 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Fred Homeowners
Property equity in Fred sits at a moderate ratio to estimated remediation costs — a classification that reframes the household financial perspective from routine maintenance to deliberate budgeting, where most homeowners have a realistic path to addressing documented water and safety issues if they map the financial commitment against available resources before committing to scope.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Fred. The estimated $1,100–$2,600 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 57% below the Texas average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Fred
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.
Older homes from the pre-rule era make up 23% of Fred's inventory, a contained slice. Citywide aggregate readings stay below 0.015 mg/L under EPA Lead and Copper Rule monitoring, suggesting systemic lead is not a dominant local concern. What the aggregate cannot do is reflect conditions inside any single building, where interior plumbing age, water chemistry, and stagnation patterns interact differently than they do across thousands of service connections combined into one figure.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Fred
Measured across the NFIP's multi-decade tracking period, Fred shows a moderate flood record — 5 claims and 100% of ZIP codes carrying FEMA flood zone status. For water quality, that combination matters because flood events at this frequency can periodically stress infrastructure: treatment plants, private wells, and distribution systems all face elevated risk during significant flooding.
Fred has a moderate flood history with 5 FEMA claims averaging $8,774 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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>$1,700</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 Fred, TX