Fountain, NC: 11 Health Violations - Home Safety 90/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Fountain: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Fountain tap water earns a high safety grade - above-average compliance with NC and federal standards.
How Fountain Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Fountain Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 20 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 75% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.91 - above typical levels.
Fountain's Water Providers
Fountain, NC is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 5 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
- A
- A
- A
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Fountain, North Carolina (population ~1,525), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 35,723 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 11 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Fountain: A (90/100)
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
Fountain water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27829 | A | 20 | 11 | Bell Arthur Water Corporation |
All ZIP Codes in Fountain
- 27829 [A] - 20 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.
Fountain 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
What's in Fountain's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Fountain Infrastructure Age
With 75% 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
When more than half a city's housing predates the 1986 federal ban on lead solder, plumbing-era lead risk becomes a citywide concern rather than an exception. Fountain's median build year of 1961 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Fountain 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Fountain
At current Fountain valuations, the remediation share sits in the elevated tier - a level where deliberate financial planning becomes a practical prerequisite rather than a convenience for most homeowners.
At 3.0% of home value, remediation costs in Fountain represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,650–$3,900. Home values here are 63% below the North Carolina average.
Fountain: 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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 75% pre-rule share in Fountain keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Fountain: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Fountain contains 1 flood insurance claim. 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>$2,600</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 Fountain, NC