Worst Infrastructure: Houston Metro — 2026

Out of 110 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in the Houston metro area, 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	110
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	77002	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
2	77003	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
3	77004	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
4	77005	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	67/100
5	77006	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
6	77007	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
7	77008	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
8	77009	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
9	77010	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
10	77011	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
11	77012	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
12	77013	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
13	77014	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	88/100
14	77015	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	62/100
15	77016	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
16	77017	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	89/100
17	77018	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
18	77019	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	—
19	77020	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
20	77021	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
21	77022	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
22	77023	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
23	77024	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	90/100
24	77025	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	72/100
25	77026	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
26	77027	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
27	77028	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
28	77029	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	84/100
29	77030	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	87/100
30	77031	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
31	77032	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	89/100
32	77033	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
33	77034	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	89/100
34	77035	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	89/100
35	77036	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
36	77037	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
37	77038	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	77/100
38	77039	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	85/100
39	77040	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	83/100
40	77041	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	75/100
41	77042	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
42	77043	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	90/100
43	77044	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	76/100
44	77045	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
45	77046	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
46	77047	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	73/100
47	77048	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
48	77049	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	75/100
49	77050	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
50	77051	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
51	77053	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	75/100
52	77054	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
53	77055	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
54	77056	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
55	77057	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	74/100
56	77058	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	74/100
57	77059	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	73/100
58	77060	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	75/100
59	77061	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
60	77062	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	73/100
61	77063	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
62	77064	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	81/100
63	77065	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	75/100
64	77066	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	84/100
65	77067	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	86/100
66	77068	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	87/100
67	77069	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	90/100
68	77070	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	84/100
69	77071	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	85/100
70	77072	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
71	77073	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	90/100
72	77074	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
73	77075	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	90/100
74	77076	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	88/100
75	77077	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
76	77078	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
77	77079	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
78	77080	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
79	77081	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
80	77082	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
81	77083	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	75/100
82	77084	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	69/100
83	77085	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
84	77086	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	80/100
85	77087	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
86	77088	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	85/100
87	77089	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	73/100
88	77090	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	75/100
89	77091	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
90	77092	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
91	77093	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	88/100
92	77094	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
93	77095	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	67/100
94	77096	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
95	77098	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
96	77099	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	91/100
97	77204	Houston	TX	NaN%	Unknown	—
98	77478	Sugar Land	TX	NaN%	Unknown	—
99	77479	Sugar Land	TX	NaN%	Unknown	—
100	77498	Sugar Land	TX	NaN%	Unknown	—

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.