Blacksburg, SC Water Safety: 83/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
In current SC EPA data, Blacksburg's tap water sits in the high-safety tier.
How Blacksburg Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Blacksburg Water
- Average lead level: 0.0001 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 52% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.87 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Blacksburg
Water service in Blacksburg, SC is split across 2 utilities out of 2 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Blacksburg, South Carolina (population ~9,855), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 22,769 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Blacksburg — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Blacksburg: B (83/100)
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
Blacksburg water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0001 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29702 | B | Blacksburg Town of (sc1110002) | 4,496 |
All ZIP Codes in Blacksburg
- 29702 [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 Blacksburg
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 Blacksburg
With 52% 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
Two dates define the high-risk tiers of residential plumbing from a lead standpoint: 1970, before which lead pipes were commonly installed for service connections, and 1986, before which lead solder was standard in copper plumbing. A median build year of 1984 places Blacksburg's housing distribution well within that older risk zone. The bar chart above breaks down how much of the stock falls into each era — and the pre-1986 share alone represents more than half the residential inventory, making plumbing-era risk a defining characteristic of the local water safety picture.
Over half of homes in Blacksburg 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 Blacksburg Homeowners
Setting Blacksburg remediation figures against its property market, the resulting ratio sits comfortably in the low tier — a classification that reflects the kind of household financial position where most homeowners can identify documented issues, schedule the work, and absorb the cost without it registering as a significant budget disruption.
Remediation costs in Blacksburg are relatively low compared to home values. The $400–$1,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 42% below the South Carolina average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Blacksburg
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.
Wherever 52% of local housing was built before solder rules changed — as is the case in Blacksburg — a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Blacksburg, SC