Sugar Land, TX: 5 Violations — 84/100 (2026)
5 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Throughout Sugar Land and across its water systems, EPA compliance data for TX shows above-average performance — violations are minimal, none of the tracked systems have recorded repeated MCL exceedances in recent cycles, and the safety picture has held steady across multiple reporting periods.
How Sugar Land Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Sugar Land, TX
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Sugar Land's 5 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Sugar Land Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 5 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0025 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 29% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,280 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.81.
Sugar Land's Water Providers
Sugar Land, TX is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 10 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 5 ZIP codes in Sugar Land, Texas (population ~168,146), covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 3,205,049 people region-wide.
5 of 5 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Sugar Land: B (84/100)
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
Sugar Land water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0025 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)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 5 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0800 | Other | 6 | 5 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77478 | B | 1 | 0 | City of Sugar Land |
| 77479 | B | 1 | 0 | City of Sugar Land |
| 77487 | A | 1 | 0 | City of Sugar Land |
| 77496 | A | 1 | 0 | City of Sugar Land |
| 77498 | B | 1 | 0 | City of Sugar Land |
All ZIP Codes in Sugar Land
- 77478 [B] — 1 violation
- 77479 [B] — 1 violation
- 77487 [A] — 1 violation
- 77496 [A] — 1 violation
- 77498 [B] — 1 violation
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.
Sugar Land 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 Sugar Land's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Sugar Land 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
Newer construction dominates Sugar Land's residential inventory, as reflected in a median build year of 1989. The practical implication is that lead-soldered copper plumbing joints — a pre-1986 standard now federally prohibited — are an exception rather than the rule in this city, though they remain present in the older fraction of the housing stock.
Most homes in Sugar Land 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 Sugar Land
At current valuations, Sugar Land sits in the low remediation-share tier — the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Sugar Land are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,520–$3,160 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 66% above the Texas average.
Sugar Land: 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.
Reading Sugar Land's aggregate samples next to its housing-age figures yields a quiet baseline. Lead rests under the federal action benchmark in citywide monitoring, and only 29% of homes were built before the federal ban on solder containing lead. Households with kids — the population for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure — can confirm in-home conditions with a draw-test kit, with a certified lead-removal filter available through certified retail channels if results warrant it.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Sugar Land: Flood History & Water Damage Risk
Flood risk in Sugar Land reaches a level where its interaction with water quality becomes a concrete planning concern rather than an abstract possibility. NFIP data records 1141 claims, and 100% of the area's ZIP codes are within FEMA-designated flood zones. At this exposure level, the mechanisms connecting major flood events to water quality disruption — treatment overload, well contamination, distribution backflow — have likely been activated repeatedly over the multi-decade NFIP tracking window.
Sugar Land has a significant flood history with 1,141 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $28,763 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>$2,280</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Sugar Land, TX