Gastonia, NC: 102 Violations - Home Safety Score unavailable
5 ZIP codes · 12 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
Gastonia Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 102 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.02 mg/L - exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 61% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,420 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.43 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Gastonia
Throughout Gastonia, NC, water comes from one of 3 primary utilities out of 12 total systems - independent providers with different rate structures, infrastructure, and compliance records that vary across the service territory.
Overview
We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Gastonia, North Carolina, covering 12 community water systems serving approximately 112,352 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 5 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes 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.
Water Sources
Gastonia water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0200 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 3 of 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 59 | 3 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 29 | 3 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 18 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 3 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28056 | — | 66 | 4 | Two Rivers Utilities |
| 28052 | — | 32 | 7 | Two Rivers Utilities |
| 28054 | — | 27 | 3 | Two Rivers Utilities |
All ZIP Codes in Gastonia
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 Gastonia
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 Gastonia
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Gastonia's Housing Stock?
With 61% 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
Plumbing risk in older housing is defined by two eras: the pre-1970 period when lead pipes were commonly used for service lines, and the 1970-to-1986 period when lead solder remained standard in copper plumbing until the federal ban. Gastonia's median build year of 1972 lands in a range where both eras are heavily represented in the housing stock. That creates an elevated aggregate environment for plumbing-related lead exposure - one that city-level water quality averages don't capture, because the risk sits inside individual properties rather than in the distribution system.
Over half of homes in Gastonia 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.
Gastonia: Remediation Cost in Perspective
What does remediation cost in financial context for Gastonia homeowners? Proportionally very little - the equity share here is low, and addressing documented issues is a manageable planning question rather than a material financial burden.
Remediation costs in Gastonia are relatively low compared to home values. The $630–$2,480 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 7% below the North Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Gastonia
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.
Locally in Gastonia, 61% of housing comes from before the solder rule, and citywide monitoring has crossed the federal action mark. That joint signal keeps in-home tests and certified filtration at a household-level priority, particularly where small kids are present.
<strong>3 ZIP codes</strong> (60% of the city) exceed the EPA lead action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Gastonia
Historical NFIP data for Gastonia contains 46 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $9,937. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% 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>$1,420</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 Gastonia, NC