Kannapolis, NC: 6 Violations — 83/100 (2026)
3 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
EPA compliance records for Kannapolis tell a largely clear story: violation rates are low, health-based exceedances are uncommon, and the city's grade puts it well above average within NC.
How Kannapolis Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Facts for Kannapolis Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 6 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 57% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,833 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.92.
Kannapolis's Water Providers
Water delivery in Kannapolis, NC is handled by 3 utilities rather than a single system — drawn from 7 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Kannapolis, North Carolina (population ~57,545), covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 184,348 people region-wide.
3 of 3 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Kannapolis: B (83/100)
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
Kannapolis water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Kannapolis
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 3 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 3 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28081 | B | 2 | 0 | City of Kannapolis, |
| 28082 | A | 2 | 0 | City of Kannapolis, |
| 28083 | B | 2 | 0 | City of Kannapolis, |
All ZIP Codes in Kannapolis
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.
Kannapolis 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 Kannapolis's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Kannapolis Infrastructure Age
With 57% 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
Lead solder was standard in copper plumbing until federally banned in 1986; lead pipes were common in service lines pre-1970. Kannapolis's median build year of 1974 reflects a housing stock where these older materials are a pervasive feature — not a rare legacy — of the residential plumbing landscape.
Over half of homes in Kannapolis 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 Kannapolis
At current valuations, Kannapolis sits in the low remediation-share tier — the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Kannapolis are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,267–$2,733 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 9% above the North Carolina average.
Kannapolis: 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 57% pre-rule share in Kannapolis 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.
Kannapolis: Flood History & Water Damage Risk
The National Flood Insurance Program captures decades of claims at the local level, building a record of cumulative community flood exposure. For Kannapolis, that record documents 30 claims and 67% of ZIP codes inside FEMA-designated flood zones. What makes those numbers relevant to water quality is the set of mechanisms flooding activates: heavy precipitation that floods treatment intake zones can introduce contaminants upstream of normal filtration; well casings in low-lying areas can be infiltrated by floodwaters carrying bacteria, sediment, and chemical residue; and distribution system pressure changes during flooding can create backflow conditions. These effects become more probable as flood frequency and magnitude increase — and the NFIP record indicates both are meaningful factors locally.
Kannapolis has a moderate flood history with 30 FEMA claims averaging $52,908 per payout. 67% 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>$1,833</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 Kannapolis, NC