Oak City, NC Water Safety: 73/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
In current NC EPA data, Oak City's tap water sits in the high-safety tier.
How Oak City Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Oak City Water
- Homes built before 1986: 54% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 16.55 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Oak City
Water delivery in Oak City, NC is handled by 2 utilities rather than a single system — drawn from 2 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 1 ZIP code in Oak City, North Carolina (population ~1,211), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 2,653 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Oak City — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Oak City: B (73/100)
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
Oak City water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Oak City
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27857 | B | Martin Company Water & Sewer District I | 2,245 |
All ZIP Codes in Oak City
- 27857 [B]
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 Oak 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
Housing & Infrastructure in Oak City
With 54% 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. Oak City's median build year of 1985 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Oak City 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 Oak City Homeowners
The equity-to-remediation ratio in Oak City is moderate — worth planning for but within reach for most property owners.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Oak City. The estimated $800–$1,800 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 64% below the North Carolina average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Oak 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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 54% pre-rule share in Oak City 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.
Flood & Climate Risk in Oak City
Over the multi-decade window covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, Oak City has accumulated 4 claims — a total that suggests more than isolated flood exposure. With 100% of ZIP codes in designated flood zones, the water-quality implications of flooding move from hypothetical to periodically relevant: treatment intake can be compromised, wells can be infiltrated, and distribution backflow can occur.
Oak City has a moderate flood history with 4 FEMA claims averaging $5,861 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>$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 Oak City, NC