Charleston, SC Home Safety: Home Safety 83/100
16 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Charleston: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Tap water system records for Charleston, SC support a high grade on this site; review your own system's entries for specifics.
How Charleston Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Charleston, SC
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Charleston's 10 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Charleston Residents
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0035 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.45.
Charleston's Water Providers
3 systems shown for Charleston, SC, from 4 on the federal list.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 16 ZIP codes in Charleston, South Carolina (population ~208,163), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 467,994 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 10 of 16 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 10 ZIP codes with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Charleston: B (83/100)
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
Charleston water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0035 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 10 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
16 of 16 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 3.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29401 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
| 29403 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
| 29406 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
| 29407 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
| 29409 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
| 29412 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
| 29414 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
| 29424 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
| 29425 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
| 29492 | B | Charleston Water System (sc1010001) | 327,422 |
All ZIP Codes in Charleston
- 29401 [B]
- 29402
- 29403 [B]
- 29406 [B]
- 29407 [B]
- 29409 [B]
- 29412 [B]
- 29413
- 29414 [B]
- 29416
- 29417
- 29422
- 29423
- 29424 [B]
- 29425 [B]
- 29492 [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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Charleston Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
How Remediation Costs Compare in Charleston
Here the gap between local home values and the estimated repair bill is wide, so the percentage shown below for Charleston stays at or under the 1% mark.
Estimated remediation costs in Charleston can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 122% above the South Carolina average.
Charleston: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Available area-level lead records for Charleston do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Charleston: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Charleston contains 10,419 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $22,064. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 91% 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 $500 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 Charleston, SC