Big Creek, MS Water Safety: 73/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Big Creek, MS: reliable drinking water, above-average safety record, few violations.
How Big Creek Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Big Creek Water
- Homes built before 1986: 57% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 16.99 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Big Creek
4 water systems are tracked federally in Big Creek, MS. The top 3 providers collectively serve most residential addresses, but because they operate independently, infrastructure maintenance standards and compliance histories differ from one service zone to another.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Big Creek, Mississippi (population ~586), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 16,719 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Big Creek — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Big Creek: 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
Big Creek water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Big Creek
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38914 | B | City of Grenada | 12,762 |
All ZIP Codes in Big Creek
- 38914 [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.
Health Outcomes in Big 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
Housing & Infrastructure in Big Creek
With 57% 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
Big Creek's housing stock is predominantly older, with a median build year of 1986 that reflects decades of construction before federal plumbing standards were tightened. The 1986 ban on lead solder and the pre-1970 era of lead service lines are both relevant benchmarks here — a significant share of the residential inventory predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating an elevated baseline for plumbing-related lead risk that aggregate water quality data may not fully reflect at the household level.
Over half of homes in Big 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Big Creek Homeowners
Across the Big Creek housing market, the estimated remediation share lands in a middle tier — not a minor footnote, but not a prohibitive burden either; the cost-to-value ratio reflects a moderate equity commitment, one that sits above routine maintenance territory and warrants a dedicated line in the household budget.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Big Creek. The estimated $800–$1,800 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 43% below the Mississippi average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Big 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.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 57% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Big Creek.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Big Creek
Across the multi-decade NFIP record, Big Creek shows a claim tally well below the thresholds where flood exposure typically enters active infrastructure-risk discussions. Flooding can disrupt water quality when events are large enough to overwhelm treatment systems or contaminate private wells, but that scenario remains a low-probability edge case for communities at this claim level.
Big Creek has a relatively low flood history with 2 FEMA claims on record. While risk is limited, severe weather events can still impact water infrastructure.
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>$1,200</strong> remediation cost per household.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Big Creek, MS