Whitesburg, KY - Home Safety Score unavailable
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Whitesburg Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 70 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 64% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,500 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Whitesburg
Whitesburg, KY draws its residential water from 3 separate providers among the 3 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Whitesburg, Kentucky, covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 7,958 people. 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
Whitesburg 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 60 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 34 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 20 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41858 | — | 70 | 4 | Letcher County Water District |
All ZIP Codes in Whitesburg
- 41858 - 70 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.
Top Contaminants in Whitesburg Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Whitesburg
With 64% 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
Reading the housing age data for Whitesburg - median build year 1973 - the overriding implication is that the plumbing materials inside a typical home here reflect pre-1986 construction standards. In practical terms, that means lead-soldered copper joints are common across much of the housing stock. Where those materials are present, water can leach lead as it moves through joints - a pathway that corrosion control treatment under federal rules is designed to reduce, though it cannot eliminate lead risk where the plumbing materials themselves contain lead.
Over half of homes in Whitesburg 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Whitesburg Homeowners
The equity share of documented remediation in Whitesburg is high - a cost-to-value ratio that places this market in the elevated tier and means most homeowners are weighing a financial decision where scoping by urgency, mapping costs against household budget, and knowing what assistance options exist are practical steps that can materially improve outcomes.
At 2.5% of home value, remediation costs in Whitesburg represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,350–$3,900. Home values here are 32% below the Kentucky average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Whitesburg
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.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 64% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Whitesburg.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Whitesburg
Historical NFIP data for Whitesburg contains 91 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $55,862. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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 <strong>$2,500</strong> 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 Whitesburg, KY