Cowpens, SC: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 66/100
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Cowpens: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Recent monitoring in Cowpens shows middle-tier safety for SC - some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.
How Cowpens Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Cowpens Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 3 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 51% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.55 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Cowpens
3 independent water providers serve Cowpens, SC - 4 systems appear in federal records.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Cowpens, South Carolina (population ~8,720), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 195,585 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. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Cowpens: C (66/100)
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
Cowpens 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 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29330 | C | 3 | 3 | Spartanburg Water System (sc4210001) |
All ZIP Codes in Cowpens
- 29330 [C] - 3 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 Cowpens
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 Cowpens
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Cowpens's Housing Stock?
With 51% 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
Because the majority of Cowpens's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1986 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Cowpens 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.
Cowpens: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The cost-to-value ratio in Cowpens is in the moderate range - neither dismissible nor alarming, but above the threshold where remediation can be treated as incidental. Most homeowners here are weighing a real equity commitment, and the moderate classification reflects that accurately.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Cowpens. The estimated $1,600–$4,100 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 29% below the South Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Cowpens
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.
Older stock in Cowpens represents 51% of the inventory, and citywide monitoring runs at or above the federal action level - making an in-home read a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Cowpens
Historical NFIP data for Cowpens contains 3 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $30,698. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$2,800</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.
What You Can Do in Cowpens
- 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 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Cowpens's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 51% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cowpens, SC