2026 Rankings

Worst Water Infrastructure in America — 2026 Rankings

Last updated: August 31, 2026

33,138 ZIP codes ranked by Pipe Failure Risk #1: ZIP 10001 (New York, NY) - NaN%
Lead Violations Lowest Score Safest Flood Risk Energy Cost Radon PFAS Reliability EJ Index Homebuyer Risk CO & Gas Safest Gas Remediation Burden Unresolved Violations (by Utility) Water Equity (by Utility)

Out of 33,138 ZIP codes with infrastructure data nationally, these areas face the highest estimated risk of water pipe failure based on infrastructure age, funding gaps, and violation history.

Statistic Value
ZIP codes ranked 33,138
Highest risk NaN%
Median risk NaN%
Average risk NaN%

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank ZIP Code City State Pipe Failure Risk Risk Level Safety Score
1 10001 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
2 10002 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
3 10003 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
4 10004 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
5 10005 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
6 10006 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
7 10007 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
8 10009 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
9 10010 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
10 10011 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
11 10012 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
12 10013 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
13 10014 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
14 10016 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
15 10017 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
16 10018 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
17 10019 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
18 10021 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
19 10022 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
20 10023 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
21 10024 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
22 10025 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
23 10026 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
24 10027 New York NY NaN% Unknown —
25 10028 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
26 10029 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
27 10030 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
28 10031 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
29 10032 New York NY NaN% Unknown 67/100
30 10033 New York NY NaN% Unknown —
31 10034 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
32 10035 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
33 10036 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
34 10037 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
35 10038 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
36 10039 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
37 10040 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
38 10044 New York NY NaN% Unknown —
39 10065 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
40 10069 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
41 10075 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
42 10128 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
43 10152 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
44 10162 New York NY NaN% Unknown —
45 10279 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
46 10280 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
47 10282 New York NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
48 10301 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
49 10302 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
50 10303 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
51 10304 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
52 10305 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
53 10306 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
54 10307 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
55 10308 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
56 10309 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
57 10310 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
58 10312 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
59 10314 Staten Island NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
60 10451 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
61 10452 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
62 10453 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
63 10454 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
64 10455 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
65 10456 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
66 10457 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
67 10458 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
68 10459 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
69 10460 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
70 10461 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
71 10462 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
72 10463 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
73 10464 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
74 10465 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
75 10466 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
76 10467 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
77 10468 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
78 10469 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
79 10470 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
80 10471 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
81 10472 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
82 10473 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
83 10474 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
84 10475 Bronx NY NaN% Unknown 100/100
85 10501 Amawalk NY NaN% Unknown —
86 10502 Ardsley NY NaN% Unknown 99/100
87 10503 Ardsley On Hudson NY NaN% Unknown —
88 10504 Armonk NY NaN% Unknown —
89 10505 Baldwin Place NY NaN% Unknown —
90 10506 Bedford NY NaN% Unknown —
91 10507 Bedford Hills NY NaN% Unknown 83/100
92 10509 Brewster NY NaN% Unknown —
93 10510 Briarcliff Manor NY NaN% Unknown 98/100
94 10511 Buchanan NY NaN% Unknown —
95 10512 Carmel NY NaN% Unknown 63/100
96 10514 Chappaqua NY NaN% Unknown —
97 10516 Cold Spring NY NaN% Unknown —
98 10517 Crompond NY NaN% Unknown —
99 10518 Cross River NY NaN% Unknown —
100 10519 Croton Falls NY NaN% Unknown —

Rankings by State

State ZIP Codes Ranked
Texas 1,943
Pennsylvania 1,821
New York 1,774
California 1,758
Illinois 1,389
Ohio 1,217
Missouri 1,030
Florida 998
Michigan 984
Iowa 968
Minnesota 876
Virginia 873
North Carolina 834
Indiana 785
Wisconsin 778
Kentucky 763
Georgia 731
West Virginia 728
Kansas 698
Oklahoma 660
Alabama 640
Tennessee 617
Arkansas 601
New Jersey 593
Washington 591
Nebraska 582
Massachusetts 536
Louisiana 524
Colorado 519
Maryland 465
Oregon 424
Maine 418
South Carolina 417
Mississippi 417
Arizona 411
North Dakota 383
South Dakota 371
Montana 367
New Mexico 360
Utah 292
Connecticut 286
Idaho 278
Vermont 258
New Hampshire 246
Alaska 239
Wyoming 176
Nevada 176
Hawaii 93
Rhode Island 81
Delaware 64
District of Columbia 36

Rankings by Metro Area

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Methodology

Infrastructure risk rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS 2023) — state-level 20-year funding gap per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980, when lead solder and galvanized pipes were common; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and 90th percentile lead testing results. The combined score is normalized to a 0-100% probability scale.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-08-31.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pipe failure probability mean?

Pipe failure probability estimates the likelihood of water main breaks, lead contamination from corroded pipes, or service disruptions based on infrastructure age, state funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. It is not a prediction of imminent failure, but a risk assessment based on known factors.

How is infrastructure risk calculated?

The risk score combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure funding gap per capita (from EPA DWINS 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system violation and enforcement history (EPA SDWIS), and lead exposure indicators (service line probability and testing results).

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Test your tap water annually, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. Consider a whole-house water filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified). Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high risk mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure risk indicates long-term vulnerability, not current contamination. However, areas with aging pipes and high violation counts have a statistically higher chance of water quality issues. Regular testing is the best way to verify your water safety.

Explore More Rankings

How this ranking is calculated, data sources, and limitations: Rankings Methodology →

Related Rankings

Water Safety 2026 EPA violations and water quality scores Lead Risk 2026 Lead pipe infrastructure and EPA exceedances Infrastructure 2026 Aging pipes, system age and remediation costs
Disclaimer: Rankings are based on EPA, FEMA, and federal agency data. They reflect historical patterns and risk indicators, not necessarily current conditions. For the most current information, contact your local water utility or request a Consumer Confidence Report.

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