Water System Report TX

Laguna Madre Water District

EPA ID: TX0310005 · 46,341 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Unlike many utilities its size, Laguna Madre Water District carries a violation-free five-year record — no EPA notices, no MCL exceedances, serving 46,341 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 65
Avg Safety Score
46,341
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0012 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
0
Contaminants Flagged
$194K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 1 (2022) to 4 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Laguna Madre Water District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$61,357
Median Household Income
38,039
Service Area Population
94%
Disadvantaged Population
80th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
42%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Laguna Madre Water District serves a community with a median household income of $61,357 and an estimated 38,039 residents across its service area. Approximately 42% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 94% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Laguna Madre Water District's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Cameron County, Texas rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

29 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
40 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 42% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 16 detections recorded. 3 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.07 ppt, PFOS: 0.07 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Texas

City of Keller
46,308 people
A 0 violations
City of Haltom City
46,260 people
A 0 violations
A 0 violations
City of Rockwall
47,251 people
A 10 violations
City of the Colony
45,367 people
A 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $567
Water Filtration $200
Total Estimated Cost $1,967

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,967 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Laguna Madre Water District (EPA ID: TX0310005) is a community water system in Texas that serves approximately 46,341 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (65/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
78578 0.0012 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by TX or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Laguna Madre Water District (TX0310005) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Laguna Madre Water District water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Laguna Madre Water District has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Laguna Madre Water District serve?

Laguna Madre Water District serves approximately 46,341 people across 3 ZIP codes in Texas.

Where does Laguna Madre Water District get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
232
Detections
10
Latest sample
3/27/2024
Highest analyte
PFBA: 14.3 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 14.3 ppt
PFPeA 4.2 ppt
PFHxA 3.7 ppt

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
7,807
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 46,674
Reported to Texas

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Laguna Madre Water District safe to drink?
Laguna Madre Water District has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Laguna Madre Water District meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Laguna Madre Water District serve?
Laguna Madre Water District serves approximately 46,341 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Laguna Madre Water District's water source?
Laguna Madre Water District draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Laguna Madre Water District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0012 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Laguna Madre Water District's service area?
The Laguna Madre Water District service area has a median household income of $61,357. EPA EJScreen data classifies 94% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Laguna Madre Water District get its water?
Laguna Madre Water District's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Laguna Madre Water District (EPA ID: TX0310005) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems Texas Laguna Madre Water District

Get safety alerts for Laguna Madre Water District, Texas

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.