Ocracoke, NC Water Safety: 72/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Drinking water tracked for Ocracoke by NC authorities posts above-average scores — the majority of systems are free from health-based exceedances and the city's grade sits above the state median.
How Ocracoke Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Ocracoke Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 51% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 16.53 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Ocracoke
Residential addresses in Ocracoke, NC are served by 2 primary water providers out of 2 systems in federal records. Each system maintains separate infrastructure and files its own EPA compliance reports, so service conditions are not uniform across the city.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Ocracoke, North Carolina (population ~709), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 6,156 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Ocracoke — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Ocracoke: B (72/100)
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
Ocracoke water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Ocracoke
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27960 | B | HYDE COUNTY WATER SYSTEM | 5,256 |
All ZIP Codes in Ocracoke
- 27960 [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.
CDC Health Data for Ocracoke
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
How Old Is Ocracoke's Housing Stock?
With 51% 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
Ocracoke's housing stock is predominantly older, with a median build year of 1985 that reflects decades of construction before federal plumbing standards were tightened. The 1986 ban on lead solder and the pre-1970 era of lead service lines are both relevant benchmarks here — a significant share of the residential inventory predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating an elevated baseline for plumbing-related lead risk that aggregate water quality data may not fully reflect at the household level.
Over half of homes in Ocracoke 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.
Ocracoke: Remediation Cost in Perspective
When remediation costs are measured against Ocracoke home values, the resulting ratio is in the low tier — addressing documented water and safety issues here claims only a minor fraction of typical equity, and most homeowners are in a position where the financial commitment is straightforward rather than a material burden on their household budget.
Remediation costs in Ocracoke are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$2,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 100% above the North Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Ocracoke
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 51% of the Ocracoke inventory was built in that earlier era — a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Ocracoke
The NFIP record for Ocracoke is not ambiguous: 794 claims filed and 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood territory add up to a substantial flood exposure profile. For a water quality assessment, that profile matters because flooding doesn't just damage property — it can temporarily compromise the systems that deliver safe drinking water, from overwhelmed treatment plants to infiltrated private wells to backflow events in distribution infrastructure.
Ocracoke has a significant flood history with 794 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $36,614 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>$1,800</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 Ocracoke, NC