Nashville, NC: 3 Health Violations — 74/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 7 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Water utilities in Nashville have maintained a consistent compliance record over recent monitoring periods — the city's above-average grade in NC reflects low violation rates and no systemic health concerns flagged in current data.
How Nashville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Nashville Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 24 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 44% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.63 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Nashville
With 3 utilities splitting service in Nashville, NC, water accountability is distributed across 7 systems on the federal record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Nashville, North Carolina (population ~17,001), covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 73,272 people region-wide.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Nashville: B (74/100)
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
Nashville water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Nashville
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 6 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27856 | B | 24 | 3 | Nashville, Town of |
All ZIP Codes in Nashville
- 27856 [B] — 24 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 Nashville
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 Nashville Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Nashville
With 44% 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
Because Nashville's housing stock spans a wide range of construction eras, the median build year of 1999 lands in a zone where two distinct risk populations share the same residential market. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered copper plumbing joints — that practice was federally prohibited in 1986 but remained standard until then. The fraction built before 1970 face an additional risk: lead pipes used for service line connections were common before that decade, meaning both the pipe and the solder may be lead-containing in the oldest structures. Residents in mid-century or earlier homes face a different risk environment than neighbors in houses built after 1986, even if they drink from the same utility's supply — and that property-level divergence is what makes the age distribution above more diagnostic than the city-wide median alone.
Most homes in Nashville 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 Nashville Homeowners
Remediation costs in Nashville represent a moderate share of typical home values — worth budgeting for carefully, though within reach for most homeowners who plan ahead.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Nashville. The estimated $1,900–$4,800 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 23% below the North Carolina average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Nashville
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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Nashville have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 44% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Nashville
Across the NFIP's long tracking period, Nashville shows 59 claims and 100% of ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones — figures that place it in moderate flood exposure territory. At this level, the water-quality implications of flooding — contaminated wells, stressed treatment intake, distribution backflow — move from theoretical edge cases to genuine periodic risks, particularly during higher-severity events.
Nashville has a moderate flood history with 59 FEMA claims averaging $33,215 per payout. 100% 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>$3,000</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 Nashville, NC