Colfax, NC Water Safety: 95/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Residents of Colfax generally live with tap water that beats the NC safety average on key EPA compliance metrics.
How Colfax Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Facts for Colfax Residents
- Average lead level: 0.0015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 28% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.94 — above typical levels.
Colfax's Water Providers
Residential water in Colfax, NC is supplied by 3 separate utilities — not one centralized authority. Each of those providers operates under its own service territory boundary, maintains its own distribution infrastructure, and files compliance documentation with the EPA on its own timeline. Federal data counts 3 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Colfax, North Carolina (population ~4,963), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 438,053 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Colfax — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Colfax: A (95/100)
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
Colfax water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0015 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)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27235 | A | City of Greensboro, | 319,588 |
All ZIP Codes in Colfax
- 27235 [A]
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.
Colfax Community Health Snapshot
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
Colfax Infrastructure Age
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
Banned from residential plumbing in 1986, lead solder was a near-universal feature of copper plumbing before that cutoff. In Colfax, where the median build year is 1992, the majority of housing falls into the post-ban category — though the older fraction of the stock still carries the residual risk that comes with pre-1986 pipe and solder materials.
Most homes in Colfax 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Colfax
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Colfax, 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 Colfax are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,600–$3,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 19% above the North Carolina average.
Colfax: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Through the multi-year window of EPA Lead and Copper Rule monitoring, Colfax has stayed under the action mark. Paired with a 28% pre-rule housing share, the result places lead in a lower-priority spot on the local picture — without erasing the structural gap between citywide averages and what arrives at one specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Colfax: Flood History & Water Damage Risk
Taken together, Colfax's 3 NFIP flood insurance claims and 100% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open — surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow — are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.
Colfax has a moderate flood history with 3 FEMA claims averaging $42,561 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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>$2,400</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 Colfax, NC