Cary, NC: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 79/100
5 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Cary: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Compared to statewide averages in NC, Cary scores well - health violations are below the norm and systems generally operate within federal standards.
How Cary Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Cary Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 38 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 25% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,360 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.55.
Water Systems Serving Cary
9 water systems are tracked federally in Cary, NC. 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.
- B
- B
- B
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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 5 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 9 | 4 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 4 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 5 | 4 |
| Stage 1 DBP 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
- 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 Cary
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 Cary
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Cary'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
Cary has a newer housing profile - median build year 1994, placing most homes after the 1986 lead-solder ban.
Most homes in Cary 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.
Cary: Remediation Cost in Perspective
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Cary, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Cary are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,180–$4,380 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 152% above the North Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Cary
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.
Where pre-rule stock represents a smaller fraction of the inventory - 25% across Cary - the structural drivers of household exposure run thinner. Aggregate readings under the federal benchmark reinforce that picture, with one-home draws remaining the only direct measurement for a specific address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Cary
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 <strong>$2,360</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 Cary, NC