Santa Maria, TX Water Safety: 66/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Santa Maria's water quality grade in TX reflects a middle-ground assessment — service areas range from fully compliant to violation-flagged in current EPA records.
How Santa Maria Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Facts for Santa Maria Residents
- Homes built before 1986: 65% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- CDC health risk index: 13.2 — above typical levels.
Santa Maria's Water Providers
Santa Maria, TX is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 3 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Santa Maria, Texas (population ~600), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 37,367 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Santa Maria — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Santa Maria: C (66/100)
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
Santa Maria water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Santa Maria
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78592 | C | Military Hwy Water Supply Corporation Las Rusias | 17,943 |
All ZIP Codes in Santa Maria
- 78592 [C]
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.
Santa Maria 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
Santa Maria Infrastructure Age
With 65% 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
Lead solder was standard in copper plumbing until federally banned in 1986; lead pipes were common in service lines pre-1970. Santa Maria's median build year of 1975 reflects a housing stock where these older materials are a pervasive feature — not a rare legacy — of the residential plumbing landscape.
Over half of homes in Santa Maria 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.
Santa Maria: 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.
Routinely in Santa Maria, where 65% of housing predates the solder ban and aggregate utility readings hover near the federal threshold, a faucet-level draw functions as a standard household step for families with small kids.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
What You Can Do in Santa Maria
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 65% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Santa Maria, TX