Chapel Hill, NC: 50 Health Violations — 70/100 (2026)
5 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Public water monitoring in Chapel Hill shows a safety record well above the NC median — health-based violations are isolated exceptions rather than recurring patterns, the city's systems have stayed compliant across recent reporting cycles, and no cluster of recurring exceedances appears in any single service area.
How Chapel Hill Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Chapel Hill, NC
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of water safety grades across Chapel Hill.
Chapel Hill Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 255 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 39% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,740 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.52.
Water Systems Serving Chapel Hill
Throughout Chapel Hill, NC, water comes from one of 3 primary utilities out of 10 total systems — independent providers with different rate structures, infrastructure, and compliance records that vary across the service territory.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Chapel Hill, North Carolina (population ~107,660), covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 448,756 people region-wide.
5 of 5 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 50 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Chapel Hill: B (70/100)
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
Chapel Hill water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 5 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 48 | 5 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 48 | 5 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 42 | 5 |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 36 | 5 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 36 | 5 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27514 | C | 51 | 10 | Stoneridge Master |
| 27515 | B | 51 | 10 | Rockbridge S/d |
| 27516 | B | 51 | 10 | Beechwood Cove/polks Landing |
| 27517 | C | 51 | 10 | DURHAM, CITY OF |
| 27599 | B | 51 | 10 | Orange Water & Sewer Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Chapel Hill
- 27514 [C] — 51 violations ⚠
- 27515 [B] — 51 violations ⚠
- 27516 [B] — 51 violations ⚠
- 27517 [C] — 51 violations ⚠
- 27599 [B] — 51 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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Chapel Hill
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 Chapel Hill
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Chapel Hill'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
Because Chapel Hill's housing stock spans a wide range of construction eras, the median build year of 1990 lands in a zone where two distinct risk populations share the same residential market. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered copper plumbing joints — that practice was federally prohibited in 1986 but remained standard until then. The fraction built before 1970 face an additional risk: lead pipes used for service line connections were common before that decade, meaning both the pipe and the solder may be lead-containing in the oldest structures. Residents in mid-century or earlier homes face a different risk environment than neighbors in houses built after 1986, even if they drink from the same utility's supply — and that property-level divergence is what makes the age distribution above more diagnostic than the city-wide median alone.
Most homes in Chapel Hill 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.
Chapel Hill: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Chapel Hill, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small — not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Chapel Hill are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,420–$5,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 143% above the North Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Chapel Hill
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.
Confirming what arrives at a specific faucet is something utility-side averages cannot do. With 39% of Chapel Hill stock built before the lead-solder ban and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory mark, a tap-level kit fits the standard diligence picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Chapel Hill
Flood claims in Chapel Hill number 509 under the NFIP, and 80% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA-designated zones — together reflecting a community where flooding is a recurring, significant feature of the local risk environment with direct implications for periodic water supply safety.
Chapel Hill has a significant flood history with 509 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $37,446 per claim. With 80% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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>$3,740</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 Chapel Hill, NC