Kill Devil Hills, NC: 1 Violation — 75/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Throughout Kill Devil Hills and across its water systems, EPA compliance data for NC shows above-average performance — violations are minimal, none of the tracked systems have recorded repeated MCL exceedances in recent cycles, and the safety picture has held steady across multiple reporting periods.
How Kill Devil Hills Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Kill Devil Hills Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 1 violation in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0039 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 52% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.87 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Kill Devil Hills
At present, 3 utilities serve the bulk of Kill Devil Hills, NC's residential water connections out of 5 systems active in the area, spread across independent providers with separate infrastructure and compliance obligations.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina (population ~12,628), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 43,787 people region-wide.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Kill Devil Hills: B (75/100)
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
Kill Devil Hills water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0039 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27948 | B | 1 | 0 | Dare County Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Kill Devil Hills
- 27948 [B] — 1 violation
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.
Health Outcomes in Kill Devil Hills
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
Top Contaminants in Kill Devil Hills Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Kill Devil Hills
With 52% 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. Kill Devil Hills's median build year of 1984 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Kill Devil Hills 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Kill Devil Hills Homeowners
The household financial picture for Kill Devil Hills homeowners is proportionally favorable — addressing documented issues claims a small slice of equity, and the cost-to-value ratio puts this area well within the manageable tier.
Remediation costs in Kill Devil Hills are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 69% above the North Carolina average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Kill Devil Hills
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.
When older housing represents 52% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual Kill Devil Hills address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Kill Devil Hills
Unlike communities where NFIP data shows minimal flood history, Kill Devil Hills's record documents 2720 claims and 100% of ZIP codes inside FEMA flood zones — a combination that moves flood-related water quality risk from the background into the foreground of any complete local water assessment. Flooding can overwhelm treatment capacity, contaminate wells, and trigger distribution backflow; at this level of exposure, those mechanisms have likely been activated during significant flood events.
Kill Devil Hills has a significant flood history with 2,720 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $7,922 per claim. With 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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>$1,200</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 Kill Devil Hills, NC