Vandiver, AL: 3 Violations - Home Safety 65/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Vandiver: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Public water data for Vandiver, AL reveals a split picture - tap water quality varies meaningfully by service area and the city's grade reflects that variability.
How Vandiver Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Vandiver Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 3 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.004 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 40% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.18 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Vandiver
Residential addresses in Vandiver, AL are served by 2 primary water providers out of 2 systems in federal records. Each system maintains separate infrastructure and files its own EPA compliance reports, so service conditions are not uniform across the city.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Vandiver, Alabama (population ~618), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 588,252 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Vandiver: C (65/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Vandiver water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0040 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 | 2 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35176 | C | 3 | 0 | Sterrett-vandiver Water System, Inc. |
All ZIP Codes in Vandiver
- 35176 [C] - 3 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 Vandiver
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 Vandiver
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Vandiver's Housing Stock?
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Over the decades, Vandiver accumulated housing from multiple construction periods. The median build year of 1980 places the midpoint of that stock near the 1986 threshold when lead solder in plumbing became federally prohibited - leaving a sizable share of homes on each side of that safety line.
Most homes in Vandiver were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Vandiver: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Within the Vandiver market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity - the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Vandiver are relatively low compared to home values. The $400–$1,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 31% below the Alabama average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Vandiver
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 40% of the Vandiver inventory was built in that earlier era - a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
What You Can Do in Vandiver
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Vandiver's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 40% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Vandiver, AL