Water System Report TX

City of Hays

EPA ID: TX1050004 · 270 people served · 1 ZIP code

Water monitoring history at City of Hays shows a clean slate — EPA tracking over the past five years turned up no violations, and 270 residents continue to receive fully compliant service.

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

270
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$379K
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 1 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Hays Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$110,417
Median Household Income
46,685
Service Area Population
16%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
12%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Hays serves a community with a median household income of $110,417 and an estimated 46,685 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Hays's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
10th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Hays 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

26 yr
Avg Pipe Age
PEX or Copper
Pipe Material
39 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 40% 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. 7 detections recorded. 1 exceeds 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

0 violations
Cotton Bayou Park
270 people
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0 violations
Bumblebee Hills
273 people
0 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,800
PFAS Treatment $600
Total Estimated Cost $2,400

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 $2,400 (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

City of Hays (EPA ID: TX1050004) is a community water system in Texas that serves approximately 270 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 78610 in Buda.

Violation History

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

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

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

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Hays (TX1050004) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Hays water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, City of Hays has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does City of Hays serve?

City of Hays serves approximately 270 people across 1 ZIP code in Texas.

Where does City of Hays get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
93
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: 270
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

Should I use a water filter?
City of Hays meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Hays serve?
City of Hays serves approximately 270 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is City of Hays's water source?
City of Hays draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of City of Hays's service area?
The City of Hays service area has a median household income of $110,417. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Hays get its water?
City of Hays's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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