CITY REPORT TN 3 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Columbia, TN: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 76/100

2 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Columbia: B.

This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.

Water systems serving Columbia hold a strong EPA compliance record - the city places among the better-performing areas in TN with few health-based violations on file.

How Columbia Compares

Columbia76/100
Tennessee avg72/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

2
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems
1
ZIPs with Violations
B · 76
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
Radon Risk (Low)
$295K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation (0.4% of home value)

Key Facts for Columbia Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 14 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 13.76 - above typical levels.

Columbia's Water Providers

Residential water service in Columbia, TN is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 5 systems on file with federal regulators.

Overview

We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Columbia, Tennessee (population ~66,696), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 197,116 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 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 Columbia: B (76/100)

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

Columbia water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 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)

  • Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 3 (Low): 2 ZIP codes

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 10 1
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 8 1
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 4 1
Chlorite Disinfection Byproducts 2 1
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
38401 B 14 3 Columbia Power and Water Systems

All ZIP Codes in Columbia

Data Sources

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

Columbia Community Health Snapshot

10.7%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
12.6%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
18.9%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 10.7% ↑
Diabetes 12.6% ↑
Mental Health 18.9% ↑

Vertical line = national average. Above national · Below national

What's in Columbia's Water?

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 10 violations
Disinfection Byproducts · EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L
Increased cancer risk with long-term exposure
Surface Water Treatment Rule 8 violations
Treatment Technique
Pathogens may not be adequately removed
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 4 violations
Disinfection Byproducts · EPA limit: 0.08 mg/L
Increased cancer risk with long-term exposure

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

How Remediation Costs Compare in Columbia

In Columbia, documented water and safety issues can be addressed without making a meaningful dent in home equity - the financial proportionality here is favorable, and the commitment fits within standard property planning frameworks.

Median Home Value
$295,200
Est. Remediation
$1,200
Remediation as % of home value 0.4%

Remediation costs in Columbia are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,700 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 32% above the Tennessee average.

Columbia: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

0.001
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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 Columbia 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.

Columbia: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

151
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$15,742
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Columbia contains 151 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $15,742. 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>$1,200</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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Columbia, TN?
Columbia has an average Home Safety Score of 76/100 (Grade B) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. 14 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does Columbia have?
Columbia water systems have a total of 14 EPA violations, including 3 health-based violations. Violations are tracked across 2 ZIP codes.
Does Columbia water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Columbia is 0.001 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Columbia compare to Tennessee average?
Columbia has an average Home Safety Score of 76/100, which is above the Tennessee state average of 72/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Columbia?
Columbia is served by 5 public water systems across 2 ZIP codes, serving approximately 66,696 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Columbia?
Estimated remediation costs in Columbia average $1,200 per household, ranging from $800 to $1,700. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
HomeCitiesTennessee → Columbia, TN

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Columbia, TN: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 76/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/tn/columbia/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-tn-columbia,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Columbia, TN: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 76/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/tn/columbia/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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