CITY REPORT NC HEALTH VIOLATIONS: 1

Cary, NC: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 79/100

5 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Cary: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

Looking at federal compliance records for Cary, NC: the city earns a grade in the top two bands here, and each serving system's violation history can be reviewed individually for what lies behind it.

How Cary Compares

Cary79/100
North Carolina avg78/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

5
ZIP Codes
9
Water Systems
4
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
B · 79
Avg Safety Score
Zone 2
County Radon Potential (Moderate)
$595K
Median Home Value
$800
Est. Remediation (0.1% of home value)

Cary Water: The Quick Version

  • Your city's water systems recorded 38 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0027 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 25% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $800 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.55.

Water Systems Serving Cary

Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 9 tied to Cary, NC.

Overview

We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Cary, North Carolina (population ~167,694), covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 962,967 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 5 ZIP codes.

4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Cary: B (79/100)

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

Cary water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0027 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

5 of 5 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 9 4
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 6 4
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 6 2
Public Notice Rule Reporting 5 4
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 4 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
27519 B 25 1 Cary, Town of
27518 B 12 1 Cary, Town of
27513 B 7 1 Cary, Town of
27511 B 3 1 Cary, Town of

All ZIP Codes in Cary

  • 27511 [B] - 3 violations ⚠
  • 27512
  • 27513 [B] - 7 violations ⚠
  • 27518 [B] - 12 violations ⚠
  • 27519 [B] - 25 violations ⚠

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

CDC Health Data for Cary

10.1%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
9.5%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
14.7%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

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

Asthma 10.1% ↑
Diabetes 9.5% ↓
Mental Health 14.7% ↓

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

Key Contaminants Detected in Cary

Revised Total Coliform Rule 9 violations
Microbiological
Indicates possible bacterial contamination
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 6 violations
Disinfection Byproducts · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 0.06 mg/L
Increased cancer risk with long-term exposure above the MCL
Consumer Confidence Rule 6 violations
Reporting

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

How Old Is Cary's Housing Stock?

1994
Median Build Year
25%
Built Before 1986
5%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

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

Median build year in Cary: 1994; a tap test shows what your own water delivers.

1994
Median Year Built
25%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
5%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (5%) 1970–1986 (20%) Post-1986 (75%)

Most homes in Cary were built after 1986; lead exposure at a tap still depends on its service line and plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Cary: Remediation Cost in Perspective

How large is the remediation estimate next to home prices in Cary? Small in relative terms: it amounts to 1% of the median value or less, although the dollar figure below is still an estimate and actual costs vary by property and contractor.

Median Home Value
$594,900
Est. Remediation
$800
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in Cary can be compared with local home values. The $450–$1,400 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 152% above the North Carolina average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Cary

25%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0027
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

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.

For families with young children in Cary, two area figures are available: pre-1986 construction at about 25%, and a mean of the ZIP codes' 90th-percentile lead results under 0.010 mg/L. Testing water from the tap a child drinks from gives a home-specific result.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Cary

197
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$17,297
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
0%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Cary contains 197 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $17,297. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 $800 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 Cary, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Cary, NC?
Cary has an average Home Safety Score of 79/100 (Grade B) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 38 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving Cary?
EPA records list 38 EPA violations, including 1 health-based violation for Cary water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 5 mapped ZIP codes.
Does Cary water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Cary is 0.0027 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Cary compare to North Carolina average?
Cary has an average Home Safety Score of 79/100, which is at or above the North Carolina state average of 78/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Cary?
Our records map 9 water systems to 5 ZIP codes in Cary. The related population figure in our data is approximately 167,694 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Cary?
Estimated remediation cost per household in Cary: $800; modeled range $450 to $1,400. Estimated costs may include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, or flood protection where applicable.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Cary, NC: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 79/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/nc/cary/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-nc-cary,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Cary, NC: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 79/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/nc/cary/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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