Charleston, SC Home Safety: Home Safety 83/100
16 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Charleston: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Charleston tap water earns a high safety grade - above-average compliance with SC and federal standards.
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 lead level: 0.0035 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,669 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.45.
Charleston's Water Providers
3 independent water providers serve Charleston, SC - 4 systems appear in federal records.
- 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 16 ZIP codes
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). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
How Remediation Costs Compare in Charleston
In Charleston, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small - not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Charleston are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,123–$2,415 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 122% above the South Carolina average.
Charleston: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Lead risk in Charleston appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. 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 <strong>$1,669</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 Charleston, SC