CITY REPORT NC 1 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Oak Ridge, NC: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 86/100

1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Oak Ridge: A.

No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.

Residents of Oak Ridge generally live with tap water that beats the NC safety average on key EPA compliance metrics.

How Oak Ridge Compares

Oak Ridge86/100
North Carolina avg78/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems
1
ZIPs with Violations
A · 86
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
Radon Risk (Low)
$496K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation (0.2% of home value)

Key Facts for Oak Ridge Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 21 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 23% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 12.94 - above typical levels.

Oak Ridge's Water Providers

Across Oak Ridge, NC, residential water comes from 3 primary utilities rather than a single consolidated provider. Each system operates independently - managing its own distribution infrastructure, rate schedules, and EPA compliance filings. Federal records track 5 water systems in the area, with these top providers accounting for the majority of residential connections.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Oak Ridge, North Carolina (population ~8,573), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 321,008 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

1 of 1 ZIP code 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 Oak Ridge: A (86/100)

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

Oak Ridge water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0027 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status 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 24 1
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 10 1
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 6 1
Fecal Coliform Microbiological 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
27310 A 21 1 Arbor Run/charles Place S/d

All ZIP Codes in Oak Ridge

  • 27310 [A] - 21 violations ⚠

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Oak Ridge Community Health Snapshot

11.2%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
12.2%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
16.8%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 11.2% ↑
Diabetes 12.2% ↑
Mental Health 16.8% ↑

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

What's in Oak Ridge's Water?

Stage 1 DBP Rule 24 violations
Treatment Technique
Disinfection byproduct exposure risk
Surface Water Treatment Rule 10 violations
Treatment Technique
Pathogens may not be adequately removed
Lead and Copper Rule 6 violations
Treatment Technique
Developmental delays in children, kidney damage

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

Oak Ridge Infrastructure Age

2009
Median Build Year
23%
Built Before 1986
4%
Built Before 1970
PEX or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

Congress banned lead solder in residential plumbing in 1986, drawing a clear line in housing risk by era. Oak Ridge's median build year of 2009 puts most of its residential stock on the newer side of that boundary - a profile that generally correlates with lower plumbing-sourced lead exposure across the city.

2009
Median Year Built
23%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
4%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (4%) 1970–1986 (19%) Post-1986 (77%)

Most homes in Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge

Across Oak Ridge, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.

Median Home Value
$495,500
Est. Remediation
$1,200
Remediation as % of home value 0.2%

Remediation costs in Oak Ridge are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 110% above the North Carolina average.

Oak Ridge: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

23%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0027
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.

Since the federal solder ban took effect, new plumbing has been built without that pathway, and Oak Ridge's pre-rule stock at 23% reflects a contained footprint.

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

Oak Ridge: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

3
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$13,875
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
0%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Oak Ridge contains 3 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $13,875. 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>$1,200</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.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Oak Ridge, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Oak Ridge, NC?
Oak Ridge has an average Home Safety Score of 86/100 (Grade A) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. 21 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does Oak Ridge have?
Oak Ridge water systems have a total of 21 EPA violations, including 1 health-based violation. Violations are tracked across 1 ZIP code.
Does Oak Ridge water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Oak Ridge is 0.0027 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Oak Ridge compare to North Carolina average?
Oak Ridge has an average Home Safety Score of 86/100, which is above the North Carolina state average of 78/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Oak Ridge?
Oak Ridge is served by 5 public water systems across 1 ZIP code, serving approximately 8,573 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Oak Ridge?
Estimated remediation costs in Oak Ridge average $1,200 per household, ranging from $800 to $1,800. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Oak Ridge, NC: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 86/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/nc/oak-ridge/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-nc-oak-ridge,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Oak Ridge, NC: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 86/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/nc/oak-ridge/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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