Bear Creek, AL - Home Safety Score unavailable
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
Bear Creek Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 23 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 61% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 16.44 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Bear Creek
Bear Creek, AL is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 3 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Bear Creek, Alabama (population ~1,086), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 18,747 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Water Sources
Bear Creek water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 26 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 18 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35543 | — | 23 | 4 | Bear Creek Water Works |
All ZIP Codes in Bear Creek
- 35543 - 23 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Bear Creek
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Bear Creek
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Bear Creek's Housing Stock?
With 61% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
When more than half a city's housing predates the 1986 federal ban on lead solder, plumbing-era lead risk becomes a citywide concern rather than an exception. Bear Creek's median build year of 1972 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Bear Creek were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Bear Creek: Remediation Cost in Perspective
At current valuations, Bear Creek sits in the low remediation-share tier - the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Bear Creek are relatively low compared to home values. The $0–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 23% below the Alabama average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Bear Creek
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Older stock in Bear Creek represents 61% of the inventory, and citywide monitoring runs at or above the federal action level - making an in-home read a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Bear Creek, AL