CITY REPORT SC

North Charleston, SC: 2 Violations - Home Safety 83/100

5 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for North Charleston: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

North Charleston, SC carries a grade in ZipCheckup's upper tier; any health-based violations on record should be checked per water system.

How North Charleston Compares

North Charleston83/100
South Carolina avg80/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

5
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems
2
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
B · 83
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
County Radon Potential (Low)
$266K
Median Home Value
$500
Est. Remediation (0.2% of home value)

Key Facts for North Charleston Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0035 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 51% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.62.

North Charleston's Water Providers

Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 4 tied to North Charleston, SC.

Overview

We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in North Charleston, South Carolina (population ~75,617), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 437,202 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 5 ZIP codes.

2 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (67%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for North 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

North 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 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

5 of 5 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.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 3 2
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 3 2

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
29418 B 2 0 Charleston Water System (sc1010001)
29420 — 2 0 Charleston Water System (sc1010001)

Areas with No Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
29405 B Charleston Water System (sc1010001) 327,422

All ZIP Codes in North Charleston

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

North Charleston Community Health Snapshot

9%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
11.7%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
14.8%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

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

Asthma 9% ↓
Diabetes 11.7% ↑
Mental Health 14.8% ↓

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

What's in North Charleston's Water?

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 3 violations
Disinfection Byproducts · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 0.06 mg/L
Increased cancer risk with long-term exposure above the MCL
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 3 violations
Disinfection Byproducts · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 0.08 mg/L
Increased cancer risk with long-term exposure above the MCL

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

North Charleston Infrastructure Age

1982
Median Build Year
51%
Built Before 1986
27%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 51% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

Viewed through the lens of construction era, North Charleston has a median build year of 1982; houses completed ahead of 1986 can hold lead-bearing solder or fittings.

1982
Median Year Built
51%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
27%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (27%) 1970–1986 (24%) Post-1986 (49%)

Over half of homes in North Charleston were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

How Remediation Costs Compare in North Charleston

Compared with typical property prices, the remediation estimate for North Charleston is small in percentage terms - at or under one percent.

Median Home Value
$266,200
Est. Remediation
$500
Remediation as % of home value 0.2%

Estimated remediation costs in North 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 29% above the South Carolina average.

North Charleston: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

51%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0035
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

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.

If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

North Charleston: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

673
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$21,516
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
33%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for North Charleston contains 673 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $21,516. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 33% 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 North Charleston, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for North Charleston, SC?
North Charleston has an average Home Safety Score of 83/100 (Grade B) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 2 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving North Charleston?
EPA records list 2 EPA violations for North Charleston water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 5 mapped ZIP codes.
Does North Charleston water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of North Charleston is 0.0035 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does North Charleston compare to South Carolina average?
North Charleston has an average Home Safety Score of 83/100, which is at or above the South Carolina state average of 80/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve North Charleston?
Our records map 4 water systems to 5 ZIP codes in North Charleston. The related population figure in our data is approximately 75,617 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in North Charleston?
Estimated remediation cost per household in North Charleston: $500; modeled range $300 to $800. Estimated costs may include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, or flood protection where applicable.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). North Charleston, SC: 2 Violations - Home Safety 83/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/sc/north-charleston/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-sc-north-charleston,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{North Charleston, SC: 2 Violations - Home Safety 83/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/sc/north-charleston/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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