Hale Center, TX Water Safety: 72/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Hale Center, 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 Hale Center Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Facts for Hale Center Residents
- Homes built before 1986: 80% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.67 — above typical levels.
Hale Center's Water Providers
Throughout Hale Center, TX, water comes from one of 2 primary utilities out of 2 total systems — independent providers with different rate structures, infrastructure, and compliance records that vary across the service territory.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Hale Center, Texas (population ~2,511), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 8,077 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Hale Center — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Hale Center: B (72/100)
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
Hale Center water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Hale Center
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79041 | B | City of Littlefield | 6,372 |
All ZIP Codes in Hale Center
- 79041 [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.
Hale Center 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
Hale Center Infrastructure Age
With 80% 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Hale Center — it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1966 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in Hale Center 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Hale Center
Equity impact data for Hale Center lands in the favorable tier — remediation claims a small slice of what properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Hale Center are relatively low compared to home values. The $0–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 56% below the Texas average.
Hale Center: 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.
80% — that captures the slice of Hale Center housing dating from before the federal ban on solder containing lead. It pairs with aggregate utility readings that either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L, the benchmark set under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. Together, the two figures shift one-home reads into a standard household-level confirmation, particularly for families with kids. A certified lead-removal filter is available through retailer-verified channels if a kit returns results that warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Hale Center, TX