Health Violations Found TX 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Bright Star-salem Special Utility District

EPA ID: TX2500015 · 6,738 people served · 6 ZIP codes

5 total violations across five years at Bright Star-salem Special Utility District — every finding closed, utility compliant today, 6,738 served.

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

A · 94
Avg Safety Score
6,738
People Served
6
ZIP Codes Served
5
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0015 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
3
Contaminants Flagged
$187K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 3 (2021) to 25 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Bright Star-salem Special Utility District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$59,982
Median Household Income
41,806
Service Area Population
49%
Disadvantaged Population
55th
Poverty Percentile
67th
Energy Burden Percentile
40%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Bright Star-salem Special Utility District serves a community with a median household income of $59,982 and an estimated 41,806 residents across its service area. Approximately 40% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 49% 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

Bright Star-salem Special Utility 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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
37th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Brazoria 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

38 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
33 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 54% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Bright Star-salem Special Utility District compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects

What This Means For You

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead and Copper Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 10 detections recorded. 2 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 →

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Texas

0 violations
0 violations
City of Carthage
6,770 people
B 32 violations
City of Wilmer
6,690 people
A 0 violations
City of Hempstead
6,687 people
B 7 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Lead Pipe Replacement Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,117
Lead Pipe Replacement $530
Water Filtration $300
PFAS Treatment $283
Total Estimated Cost $2,230

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,230 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

Bright Star-salem Special Utility District (EPA ID: TX2500015) is a community water system in Texas that serves approximately 6,738 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 6 ZIP codes across 6 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: A (94/100)

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

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. All violations have been resolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
February 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
December 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
September 17, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 3 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 Yes
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Health Risk Details

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)

Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.

Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
75410 0.0015 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 Bright Star-salem Special Utility District (TX2500015) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bright Star-salem Special Utility District water safe to drink?

Bright Star-salem Special Utility District has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Bright Star-salem Special Utility District serve?

Bright Star-salem Special Utility District serves approximately 6,738 people across 6 ZIP codes in Texas.

Where does Bright Star-salem Special Utility 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
377
Detections
2
Latest sample
10/15/2025
Highest analyte
PFBA: 5.6 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 5.6 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
2,595
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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 6,738
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 Bright Star-salem Special Utility District safe to drink?
Bright Star-salem Special Utility District earns a A safety grade with 5 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Bright Star-salem Special Utility District's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Lead and Copper Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 3 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Bright Star-salem Special Utility District serve?
Bright Star-salem Special Utility District serves approximately 6,738 people with drinking water across 6 ZIP codes.
What is Bright Star-salem Special Utility District's water source?
Bright Star-salem Special Utility District draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Bright Star-salem Special Utility District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0015 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Bright Star-salem Special Utility District's service area?
The Bright Star-salem Special Utility District service area has a median household income of $59,982. EPA EJScreen data classifies 49% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Bright Star-salem Special Utility District get its water?
Bright Star-salem Special Utility 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 violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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

Bright Star-salem Special Utility District (EPA ID: TX2500015) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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