Leander, TX: 15 Health Violations - Home Safety 67/100
3 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Leander: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (15 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Leander, TX: middle-tier water safety by the latest federal monitoring.
How Leander Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Leander Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 102 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0044 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 18% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,767 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.75.
Water Systems Serving Leander
Throughout Leander, TX, water comes from one of 3 primary utilities out of 10 total systems - independent providers with different rate structures, infrastructure, and compliance records that vary across the service territory.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Leander, Texas (population ~108,441), covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 405,596 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 3 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 15 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Leander: C (67/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Leander water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0044 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 3 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 50 | 2 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 46 | 2 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 28 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 13 | 2 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78641 | C | 68 | 9 | City of Leander |
| 78645 | B | 44 | 6 | City of Lago Vista |
All ZIP Codes in Leander
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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Leander
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 Leander
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Leander's Housing Stock?
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
Copper plumbing joined with lead solder was standard practice through the mid-1980s - a design choice that federal regulators prohibited in 1986. Leander's residential inventory, centered around a median build year of 2005, is weighted toward the post-prohibition era. That context is relevant because the primary plumbing risk in older homes comes not from the municipal water supply but from what happens as water moves through lead-jointed pipes inside the structure - an exposure pathway that newer homes mostly avoid.
Most homes in Leander 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.
Leander: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Leander, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small - not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Leander are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,167–$2,567 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 98% above the Texas average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Leander
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.
If aggregate samples sit below the EPA action level and just 18% of Leander's inventory comes from the pre-rule era, systemic lead is not a dominant local concern. The aggregate still cannot tell a homeowner what is actually flowing from a specific faucet on a specific morning, which is why an in-home draw exists as a separate measurement at the household tier.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Leander
Historical NFIP data for Leander contains 243 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $36,029. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% 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. The <strong>$1,767</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
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.
What You Can Do in Leander
- 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 Lead and Copper Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Leander's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Leander, TX