Hickory, NC: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 71/100
3 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Hickory: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Public water monitoring in Hickory 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 Hickory Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Hickory Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 63 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0043 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 60% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,733 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.64 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Hickory
Water supply in Hickory, NC follows a divided structure: 3 utilities account for the largest share of residential service out of 7 total systems, each managing its own distribution network and EPA reporting. Because these systems operate independently, rate decisions and compliance outcomes are determined separately.
- C
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Hickory, North Carolina, covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 82,112 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 3 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Hickory: B (71/100)
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
Hickory water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0043 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 2 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): 3 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 | 17 | 2 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 2 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 2 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28602 | C | 51 | 2 | City of Hickory |
| 28601 | B | 15 | 2 | City of Hickory |
All ZIP Codes in Hickory
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 Hickory
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 Hickory
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Hickory's Housing Stock?
With 60% 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
Federal plumbing rules changed in two stages - lead pipes were phased out before 1970, and lead solder was banned in 1986 - but in Hickory, where the median build year is 1980, most of the housing was already in place before those rules took effect. The materials installed under older standards remain embedded in a substantial portion of the residential inventory today.
Over half of homes in Hickory 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.
Hickory: Remediation Cost in Perspective
For most Hickory homeowners, estimated remediation represents a moderate equity share - manageable with planning.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Hickory. The estimated $1,550–$4,400 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 0% above the North Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Hickory
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.
Wherever 60% of local housing was built before solder rules changed - as is the case in Hickory - a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Hickory
Historical NFIP data for Hickory contains 95 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $33,649. 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>$2,733</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 Hickory, NC