Fort Payne, AL - Home Safety Score unavailable
2 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Fort Payne Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 31 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0007 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 58% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 15.92.
Who Supplies Your Water in Fort Payne
The 3 largest of 4 systems connected with Fort Payne, AL are listed below.
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Fort Payne, Alabama (population ~21,882), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 111,381 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (50%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Water Sources
Fort Payne water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0007 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35968 | — | 31 | 0 | City of Fort Payne, the Ww Bd of the |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35967 | — | City of Fort Payne, the Ww Bd of the | 25,107 |
All ZIP Codes in Fort Payne
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.
Health Outcomes in Fort Payne
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Fort Payne Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Fort Payne
With 58% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Some homes in Fort Payne predate the 1986 federal restrictions on lead in new pipe and solder, so a tap test is a reasonable step for older homes; median build year: 1988.
Over half of homes in Fort Payne were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Fort Payne Homeowners
Measured against the median home value, the estimated cost of fixing the issues flagged for Fort Payne lands in the lowest of the three tiers this page uses.
Estimated remediation costs in Fort Payne can be compared with local home values. The $400–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 6% below the Alabama average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Fort Payne
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Fort Payne
Historical NFIP data for Fort Payne contains 30 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $37,703. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $600 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fort Payne, AL