Willow Spring, NC: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Willow Spring: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
While Willow Spring avoids NC's lowest safety tiers, a portion of its water systems have logged documented violations.
How Willow Spring Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Willow Spring Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 167 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0075 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 15% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.6 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Willow Spring
Residential water service in Willow Spring, NC is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 5 systems on file with federal regulators.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Willow Spring, North Carolina (population ~20,239), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 156,178 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 Willow Spring: C (67/100)
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
Willow Spring water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0075 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 30 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 6 | 1 |
| PFNA | PFAS | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27592 | C | 167 | 1 | Johnston Company-west |
All ZIP Codes in Willow Spring
- 27592 [C] - 167 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.
Health Outcomes in Willow Spring
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 Willow Spring Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Willow Spring
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
Lead exposure in tap water isn't just a function of what water utilities deliver - it's also shaped by the plumbing inside individual homes. Structures built before 1986 may contain lead-soldered copper joints, and homes built before 1970 face an additional risk from lead pipes themselves. Willow Spring's median build year of 2008 suggests the housing stock is broadly weighted toward the safer post-1986 era, but the age distribution shown above makes clear that the pre-1986 share of the inventory still represents a meaningful fraction worth understanding for anyone in an older home.
Most homes in Willow Spring 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 Willow Spring Homeowners
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Willow Spring, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Willow Spring are relatively low compared to home values. The $400–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 42% above the North Carolina average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Willow Spring
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.
Despite citywide averages reading cleanly under the federal action threshold, the way utilities pull samples - from a representative subset rather than door-to-door - leaves room for individual buildings with older interior lines to behave differently than the aggregate suggests. With only 15% of Willow Spring stock predating the solder rule, that residual subset is small but real, and a draw-test kit gives the only direct read on what comes out of one faucet on a given morning.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
What You Can Do in Willow Spring
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Surface Water Treatment Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Willow Spring's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Willow Spring, NC