Folly Beach, SC Home Safety: Home Safety 83/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Folly Beach: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Tap water in Folly Beach, SC scores well - low violation counts, above-average safety grade.
How Folly Beach Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Folly Beach Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.0035 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 43% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.36.
Water Systems Serving Folly Beach
Federal records list 2 water systems tied to Folly Beach, SC. Of those, 2 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Folly Beach, South Carolina (population ~869), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 332,508 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Folly Beach: 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
Folly Beach 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 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29439 | B | Folly Beach City of (1010005) | 5,086 |
All ZIP Codes in Folly Beach
- 29439 [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.
CDC Health Data for Folly Beach
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 Old Is Folly Beach's Housing Stock?
With 43% 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
Lead solder was a standard plumbing material before 1986, when federal law prohibited its use in new residential construction. In Folly Beach, the median build year of 1998 indicates that plumbing age is a material factor in local lead risk - with the pre-1986 share concentrated in specific neighborhoods and building types where older construction remains common.
Most homes in Folly Beach 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.
Folly Beach: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Equity impact data for Folly Beach lands in the favorable tier - remediation claims a small slice of what properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Folly Beach are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 387% above the South Carolina average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Folly Beach
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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Folly Beach have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 43% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as 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 Folly Beach
Historical NFIP data for Folly Beach contains 1,221 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $20,099. 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>$1,800</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Folly Beach, SC