Weslaco, TX: Lead Above EPA Limits - Home Safety 58/100
2 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Weslaco: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (8 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
While Weslaco avoids TX's lowest safety tiers, a portion of its water systems have logged documented violations.
How Weslaco Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Weslaco Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 71 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0086 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 35% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,750 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.24 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Weslaco
Residential water in Weslaco, TX is supplied by 3 separate utilities - not one centralized authority. Each of those providers operates under its own service territory boundary, maintains its own distribution infrastructure, and files compliance documentation with the EPA on its own timeline. Federal data counts 7 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Weslaco, Texas (population ~74,342), covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 265,488 people region-wide. 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. 8 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Weslaco: C (58/100)
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
Weslaco water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0086 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 67 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 32 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 27 | 2 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 13 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 9 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78596 | C | 69 | 8 | City of Weslaco |
| 78599 | — | 14 | 3 | North Alamo Water Supply Corporation |
All ZIP Codes in Weslaco
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.
Health Outcomes in Weslaco
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
Top Contaminants in Weslaco Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Weslaco
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
Development in Weslaco unfolded across multiple decades, and the median build year of 1986 reflects a housing inventory where eras of construction are genuinely mixed - including portions that predate the federal prohibition on lead solder in plumbing.
Most homes in Weslaco 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Weslaco Homeowners
Cost-to-value data for Weslaco produces a high remediation-share classification - the equity impact here is elevated, placing this market in the tier where financial preparation is a meaningful factor in how homeowners approach documented issues.
At 2.4% of home value, remediation costs in Weslaco represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,850–$4,250. Home values here are 50% below the Texas average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Weslaco
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.
Wherever 35% of local housing was built before solder rules changed - as is the case in Weslaco - a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
<strong>1 ZIP code</strong> (50% of the city) exceeds the EPA lead action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Weslaco
Historical NFIP data for Weslaco contains 1,011 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $48,681. 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>$2,750</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 Weslaco
- 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 Weslaco's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 35% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Weslaco, TX