Montgomery, TX: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 68/100
2 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Montgomery: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (51 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Although much of Montgomery meets baseline drinking water standards, some TX-tracked service areas show violations that merit a closer look - particularly for older housing stock.
How Montgomery Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Montgomery Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 164 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0032 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 19% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.46.
Montgomery's Water Providers
Structurally, Montgomery, TX's water supply is divided. Federal data identifies 10 water systems in the area, with 3 providers serving the bulk of residential connections. These utilities operate independently, meaning rate-setting authority and EPA compliance accountability are distributed rather than centralized.
- C
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Montgomery, Texas, covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 62,986 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 2 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 51 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Montgomery: C (68/100)
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
Montgomery water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0032 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): 2 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 83 | 2 |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 50 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 43 | 2 |
| Gross Beta | Radionuclides | 36 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 15 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77316 | C | 156 | 50 | Montgomery Trace Water System |
| 77356 | B | 43 | 3 | Montgomery County Municipal Utility District 18 |
All ZIP Codes in Montgomery
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.
Montgomery 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
What's in Montgomery's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Montgomery Infrastructure Age
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
Lead solder was federally prohibited in new plumbing in 1986. In Montgomery, the median build year of 2005 puts a majority of homes in the lower-risk category for that specific contamination pathway - though the pre-1986 share shown above still carries real exposure potential at the individual household level.
Most homes in Montgomery 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Montgomery
In Montgomery, property wealth outpaces what documented remediation typically demands - the equity burden lands well within the low tier.
Remediation costs in Montgomery are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,550–$3,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 74% above the Texas average.
Montgomery: 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.
Older homes from the pre-rule era make up 19% of Montgomery'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.
Montgomery: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Montgomery contains 649 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $54,146. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$2,400</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 Montgomery
- 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 Montgomery'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 Montgomery, TX