COUNTY REPORT NM

Union County, New Mexico

6 ZIP codes · Avg score 72/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

Union County earns a high water safety grade — 6 ZIP codes tracked, virtually all compliant.

How Union County Compares

Union County72/100
New Mexico avg62/100
National avg68/100

How Union County Compares

B
County Grade
72/100
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems

Union County scores 10 points above the New Mexico state average (62/100) and 4 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

B
County Grade
72
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 88415 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 88436 (53/100)
$161K
Median Home Value
$683
Avg Remediation (42% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Union County, New Mexico

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: 14.1 (asthma 9.7%, diabetes 14.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,073, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.453% avg pipe failure probability, 83% of ZIPs at high risk

79.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

→ Stable trend

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

2021
1 (1 health)
2023
1 (1 health)
2024
4 (4 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 6 total (6 health-based).

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

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.7% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 34.3% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1957
Median Build Year
79.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
45%
Pipe Failure Probability
83%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
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: $1,073

Energy Code Gap $540/yr
Wildfire $300/yr
Water / Lead $233/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

2,013 housing units in Union County

Pre-1940 20%
1940–1959 24%
1960–1979 23%
1980–1999 21%
2000+ 12%

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 Union County

$161K
Median Home Value
$683
Est. Remediation Cost
0.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Union 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 Union County residents

Asthma 9.7% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 34.3% (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 4 systems in Union County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Des Moines Water System 218 17
2 Grenville Water System 45 11
3 Capulin Mdwca 215 6
4 Clayton Municipal Supply 3,250 1

All ZIP Codes in Union County

6 ZIP codes tracked in Union County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 88415 Clayton 83 B 1 $130K
2 88414 Capulin 82 B 6 (1 health)
3 88424 Grenville 82 B 11 (1 health)
4 88418 Des Moines 77 B 17 (2 health) $161K
5 88419 Folsom 53 D 0 $263K
6 88436 Sedan 53 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Union County

Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.

Overview

Union County in New Mexico covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (72/100).

4 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to New Mexico water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Union County?
Union County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 6 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Union County?
Union County is served by 4 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 6 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Union County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Union County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,073 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Union County?
The median home build year in Union County is 1957. 79.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Union County compare to New Mexico?
Union County has an average water safety score of 72/100, which is above the New Mexico state average of 62/100.

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