Hickory, NC: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 71/100
3 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Hickory: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Tap water system records for Hickory, NC support a high grade on this site; review your own system's entries for specifics.
How Hickory Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Hickory Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 63 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0043 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 60% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.64.
Water Systems Serving Hickory
Sorted by reported population served, the top 3 of 7 public water systems mapped to Hickory, NC appear below, each with its own federal compliance record.
- 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 of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 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
3 of 3 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 17 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 10 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 2 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 2 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 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). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
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. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Hickory has a median build year of 1980; houses completed ahead of 1986 can hold lead-bearing solder or fittings.
Over half of homes in Hickory were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. 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
Relative to home values, Hickory remediation estimates run low.
Estimated remediation costs in Hickory can be compared with local home values. The $150–$600 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 0% above the North Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Hickory
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
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 $300 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