Sugar Valley, GA Water Safety: 73/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Within Sugar Valley, safety indicators for tap water remain above the GA median — documented violations are infrequent and the city's compliance record sits in the upper tier.
How Sugar Valley Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Sugar Valley Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 50% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.1 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Sugar Valley
Federal records list 2 water systems tied to Sugar Valley, GA. Of those, 2 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Sugar Valley, Georgia (population ~1,419), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 89,090 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Sugar Valley — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Sugar Valley: B (73/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Sugar Valley water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Sugar Valley
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30746 | B | CALHOUN | 53,090 |
All ZIP Codes in Sugar Valley
- 30746 [B]
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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Sugar Valley
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
How Old Is Sugar Valley's Housing Stock?
With 50% 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
Housing age is one of the most reliable proxies for plumbing-era lead risk, because two federal milestones — the widespread use of lead pipes before 1970 and the continued use of lead solder until 1986 — define the highest-risk tiers of the residential housing stock. With a median build year of 1983, Sugar Valley falls squarely within the older range — meaning a large fraction of the housing was built under the plumbing standards of those earlier eras. The distribution above captures where that risk concentrates, and why older neighborhoods warrant particular attention from residents concerned about tap water quality.
Over half of homes in Sugar Valley 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.
Sugar Valley: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Sugar Valley, property wealth outpaces what documented remediation typically demands — the equity burden lands well within the low tier.
Remediation costs in Sugar Valley are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 3% below the Georgia average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Sugar Valley
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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Sugar Valley have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 50% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Sugar Valley
How does Sugar Valley's flood record connect to local water quality? The NFIP documents 5 claims — enough to signal recurring events — and 100% of ZIP codes carry FEMA flood zone status. That combination places flooding in the category of factors that can periodically affect water infrastructure, even if the area isn't among the highest-exposure communities in the NFIP dataset.
Sugar Valley has a moderate flood history with 5 FEMA claims averaging $6,698 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,800</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Sugar Valley, GA