Hitchcock, TX: 4 Health Violations — 68/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 6 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Compliance figures for Hitchcock indicate average water quality in TX overall — some service areas have recorded health-based violations in recent monitoring cycles, while others operate cleanly, making system-level data the most actionable reference point for residents.
How Hitchcock Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Hitchcock Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0014 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 58% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,900 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.31 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Hitchcock
In Hitchcock, TX, residential water supply is distributed across multiple utilities rather than concentrated in one. The 3 leading providers out of 6 tracked systems each control their own infrastructure, file separate EPA compliance reports, and set independent rate schedules.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Hitchcock, Texas (population ~10,212), covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 85,113 people region-wide.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Hitchcock: C (68/100)
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
Hitchcock water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0014 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77563 | C | 12 | 4 | City of Hitchcock |
All ZIP Codes in Hitchcock
- 77563 [C] — 12 violations ⚠
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 Hitchcock
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Hitchcock
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Hitchcock's Housing Stock?
With 58% 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
For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Hitchcock, the median build year of 1971 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 — the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing — and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.
Over half of homes in Hitchcock 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.
Hitchcock: Remediation Cost in Perspective
For most Hitchcock homeowners, estimated remediation represents a moderate equity share — manageable with planning.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Hitchcock. The estimated $1,800–$4,800 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 13% below the Texas average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Hitchcock
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 58% of the Hitchcock inventory was built in that earlier era — a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Hitchcock
Because Hitchcock's NFIP claim count reaches 4023 and 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA-designated flood zones, flood exposure here operates differently than it does in lower-claim communities. In areas with isolated flood events, water-quality infrastructure can typically absorb the stress and recover between events. In communities with repeated high-volume flooding, treatment plants face recurring overload conditions, private wells in FEMA-designated zones accumulate repeated infiltration episodes, and distribution systems experience repeated pressure events that can drive backflow. The claim record for this area points to that second category: a flood environment where water infrastructure stress is periodic and documented, not theoretical.
Hitchcock has a significant flood history with 4,023 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $22,865 per claim. With 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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>$2,900</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.
What You Can Do in Hitchcock
- 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. Filters rated for Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Hitchcock's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 58% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Hitchcock, TX