Public water monitoring in Matthews 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.

Data: EPA SDWIS

Overview

We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Matthews, North Carolina (population ~82,154), covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 1,337,287 people region-wide. 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Matthews: B (75/100)

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

Matthews water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

• Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0040 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

Areas with Most Violations

All ZIP Codes in Matthews

• 28104 [B] - 23 violations ⚠
• 28105 [B] - 22 violations ⚠
• 28106

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.

Housing Age Profile

The year 1986 marks a critical threshold in residential plumbing safety: that's when the federal government banned lead solder from new construction, closing a major pathway for lead entering household drinking water via pipe joints. Matthews's median build year of 2002 signals that most of the city's housing was built under the newer standard. The distribution above tells the full story - the post-1986 majority lowers aggregate risk, but the pre-1986 share still deserves scrutiny from anyone living in or purchasing an older home.

2002

Median Year Built

26%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

3%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (3%) 1970–1986 (23%) Post-1986 (74%)

Most homes in Matthews were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

How Remediation Costs Compare in Matthews

Within the Matthews market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity - the financial burden is proportionally low.

Median Home Value

$482,200

Est. Remediation

$1,733

Remediation as % of home value 0.4%

Remediation costs in Matthews are relatively low compared to home values. The $867–$2,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 105% above the North Carolina average.

Matthews: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

26%

Homes Built Before 1986

0.004

mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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.

Reading aggregate data alone gives a clean picture for Matthews - system samples below the federal action mark and 26% pre-rule housing - yet that math averages many service connections. A one-tap draw gives the only direct read for a specific home.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Matthews: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

42

Total FEMA Flood Claims

$12,796

Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data

0%

A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Matthews contains 42 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $12,796. 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>$1,733</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.