Morehead City, NC: 2 Health Violations — 78/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Based on current monitoring, Morehead City holds an above-average drinking water safety record for NC — violations are infrequent and typically minor when they do appear.
How Morehead City Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Morehead City Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 7 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 48% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.93 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Morehead City
With 3 utilities splitting service in Morehead City, NC, water accountability is distributed across 5 systems on the federal record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Morehead City, North Carolina (population ~15,355), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 36,067 people region-wide.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Morehead City: B (78/100)
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
Morehead City water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 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 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28557 | B | 7 | 2 | Morehead City, Town of |
All ZIP Codes in Morehead City
- 28557 [B] — 7 violations ⚠
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 Morehead City
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 Morehead City Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Morehead City
With 48% 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
A median build year of 1983 in Morehead City is characteristic of a mixed-era city where plumbing risk depends heavily on the specific property. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered copper joints; those from before 1970 face the added possibility of lead service lines. The percentages above capture how much of the residential stock falls into each risk era.
Most homes in Morehead City 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Morehead City Homeowners
Across Morehead City, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small — a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Morehead City are relatively low compared to home values. The $950–$2,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 41% above the North Carolina average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Morehead City
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.
Older interior plumbing shapes the local picture: 48% of Morehead City homes predate the federal solder ban, and aggregate sampling either approaches or crosses the action benchmark. That mix makes a single-home draw a standard pre-purchase or pre-occupancy step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Morehead City
Morehead City's flood profile — 686 NFIP claims over the program's multi-decade period and 100% of ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones — reflects a community where flooding has shaped the local risk landscape in sustained ways. That sustained exposure has specific consequences for water quality that don't apply to lower-exposure areas. Treatment facilities handling intake from flood-saturated watersheds face contaminant loads that can exceed normal filtration capacity. Private wells in FEMA-designated zones face surface infiltration risk during every significant event. Distribution systems in areas that flood repeatedly accumulate backflow stress over time. None of these represent constant threats to water quality, but they are activated by the kinds of events that the NFIP record shows have occurred here, repeatedly, over many years.
Morehead City has a significant flood history with 686 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $14,262 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>$1,500</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 Morehead City, NC