Wharton, TX: 9 Violations — 68/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
If you're checking Wharton, TX tap water safety, the short answer is: average — violations are present in parts of the city and specifics depend on which water system serves your address.
How Wharton Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Wharton Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 9 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 61% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.92 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Wharton
Across Wharton, TX, residential water comes from 3 primary utilities rather than a single consolidated provider. Each system operates independently — managing its own distribution infrastructure, rate schedules, and EPA compliance filings. Federal records track 3 water systems in the area, with these top providers accounting for the majority of residential connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Wharton, Texas, covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 14,129 people.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Wharton: C (68/100)
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
Wharton water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0027 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)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77488 | C | 9 | 0 | City of Wharton |
All ZIP Codes in Wharton
- 77488 [C] — 9 violations
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.
Health Outcomes in Wharton
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 Wharton Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Wharton
With 61% 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
The character of Wharton's housing stock is one of deep historical layering — a median build year of 1972 signals a city built largely before the plumbing era changes of 1986 and 1970. Lead-soldered copper joints and, in the oldest properties, lead service lines are commonly present in this inventory. That context shapes what individual water testing may reveal, particularly in neighborhoods where the oldest housing is concentrated.
Over half of homes in Wharton 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Wharton Homeowners
Within the Wharton property market, documented remediation claims a moderate slice of typical equity — real but budgetable.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Wharton. The estimated $1,200–$2,500 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 24% below the Texas average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Wharton
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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Wharton have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 61% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Wharton
The National Flood Insurance Program builds its dataset one claim at a time — each filed claim represents a property where flood damage was severe enough to trigger an insurance payout. For Wharton, that dataset has accumulated 694 such events across the program's multi-decade history. 100% of ZIP codes here carry official FEMA flood zone designations, reflecting federal assessments of where flood risk is concentrated. Together, those data points describe a community with a documented, substantial flood exposure — the kind that shapes not just property risk but also the periodic reliability of water supply infrastructure. When flood events reach that scale, treatment systems face peak-load contamination stress, private wells become vulnerable to surface water intrusion, and the distribution network can experience backflow conditions that allow untreated water to re-enter the system.
Wharton has a significant flood history with 694 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $47,511 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>$1,800</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.
What You Can Do in Wharton
- 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 Wharton's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 61% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Wharton, TX