COUNTY REPORT LA

St. Mary County, Louisiana

12 ZIP codes · Avg score 67/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04

Based on current EPA data, St. Mary County's 12 ZIP codes reflect fair but mixed water safety.

How St. Mary County Compares

St. Mary County67/100
Louisiana avg71/100
National avg68/100

How St. Mary County Compares

C
County Grade
67/100
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
18
Water Systems

St. Mary County scores 4 points below the Louisiana state average (71/100) and 1 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04

C
County Grade
67
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 70505 (90/100)
Lowest ZIP: 70514 (47/100)
$123K
Median Home Value
$1,927
Avg Remediation (157% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: St. Mary County, Louisiana

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.9 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 17.6%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $4,898, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.345% avg pipe failure probability, 20% of ZIPs at high risk

50.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across St. Mary County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
2 (2 health)
2023
1 (1 health)
2024
27 (27 health)
2025
29 (29 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 29 violations. Past 5 years: 59 total (59 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.7% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 17.6% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 44.4% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1980
Median Build Year
50.2%
Pre-1978 Housing
35%
Pipe Failure Probability
20%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Moderate
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $4,898

Sea Level Rise $3,000/yr
Flood $1,517/yr
Energy Code Gap $323/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

14,105 housing units in St. Mary County

Pre-1940 8%
1940–1959 14%
1960–1979 28%
1980–1999 28%
2000+ 22%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in St. Mary County

$123K
Median Home Value
$1,927
Est. Remediation Cost
1.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in St. Mary County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for St. Mary County residents

Asthma 10.7% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 17.6% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 44.4% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in St. Mary County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 WATER & SEWER COMMISSION 4 OF ST MARY 9,709 53
2 St Mary Water & Sewer Commission #3 7,500 50
3 Franklin Water Supply 8,325 49
4 St Mary Par Jt Water Sewer Commission 5 1,240 49
5 Port of West St Mary 400 49

18 total water systems serve St. Mary County.

All ZIP Codes in St. Mary County

12 ZIP codes tracked in St. Mary County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 70505 Lafayette 90 A 0
2 70381 Morgan City 87 A 4 (3 health)
3 70522 Centerville 86 A 1 (1 health)
4 70523 Charenton 79 B 4 (4 health) $115K
5 70342 Berwick 76 B 4 (3 health) $191K
6 70392 Patterson 69 C 5 (4 health) $142K
7 70340 Amelia 68 C 7 (3 health)
8 70352 Donner 60 C 0
9 70538 Franklin 50 D 49 (30 health) $109K
10 70540 Garden City 50 D 0
11 70356 Gibson 47 D 0 $118K
12 70514 Baldwin 47 D 0 $128K

Recommended Buyer Guides for St. Mary County

Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.

Overview

St. Mary County in Louisiana covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (67/100).

7 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 48 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Louisiana water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in St. Mary County?
St. Mary County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve St. Mary County?
St. Mary County is served by 18 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 12 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in St. Mary County?
The primary environmental risk factor in St. Mary County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $4,898 per homeowner.
How old are homes in St. Mary County?
The median home build year in St. Mary County is 1980. 50.2% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does St. Mary County compare to Louisiana?
St. Mary County has an average water safety score of 67/100, which is below the Louisiana state average of 71/100.

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