Tarboro, NC: 11 Health Violations - Home Safety 70/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Tarboro: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (11 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Tap water monitoring data for Tarboro shows a consistently clean picture in NC - few violations on record, compliance well above the median.
How Tarboro Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Tarboro Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 23 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 59% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 16.51 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Tarboro
Residential water service in Tarboro, NC is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 5 systems on file with federal regulators.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Tarboro, North Carolina (population ~18,560), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 133,549 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. 11 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Tarboro: B (70/100)
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
Tarboro water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 14 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27886 | B | 23 | 11 | Tarboro, Town of |
All ZIP Codes in Tarboro
- 27886 [B] - 23 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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Tarboro
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Tarboro
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Tarboro's Housing Stock?
With 59% 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
The lead that enters tap water in older homes often comes not from the municipal supply but from the home's own plumbing - from solder used in copper joints before the 1986 federal ban, or from lead pipes installed before 1970. In Tarboro, where the median build year is 1972, these older materials are widespread. More than half the residential stock predates the 1986 solder ban, and a significant fraction predates 1970 as well. For residents in those homes, the city-wide water quality picture is a less relevant frame than the specific materials inside their own walls and under their own street.
Over half of homes in Tarboro 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.
Tarboro: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The equity share of documented remediation in Tarboro is high - a cost-to-value ratio that places this market in the elevated tier and means most homeowners are weighing a financial decision where scoping by urgency, mapping costs against household budget, and knowing what assistance options exist are practical steps that can materially improve outcomes.
At 2.5% of home value, remediation costs in Tarboro represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,900–$4,800. Home values here are 48% below the North Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Tarboro
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.
Households with kids in the home - for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - face a specific local picture in Tarboro. 59% of homes here come from the pre-rule era, and aggregate utility samples either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L. A baseline draw-test kit and certified lead-removal filtration are available via retailer networks for households confirming conditions at a specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Tarboro
Historical NFIP data for Tarboro contains 306 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $52,771. 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>$3,000</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 Tarboro, NC