Cedar Bluff, VA: High Radon Risk — 65/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Across water systems in Cedar Bluff, safety results are uneven — a portion carry active or recent violations, while others meet federal standards without incident, placing the city in the middle tier for VA.
How Cedar Bluff Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Cedar Bluff Water
- Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 61% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,900 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 16.14 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Cedar Bluff
3 independent water providers serve Cedar Bluff, VA — 4 systems appear in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Cedar Bluff, Virginia (population ~6,848), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 11,930 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Cedar Bluff — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Cedar Bluff: C (65/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Cedar Bluff water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0027 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24609 | C | Cedar Bluff, Town of | 1,400 |
All ZIP Codes in Cedar Bluff
- 24609 [C]
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
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Cedar Bluff
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Cedar Bluff
With 61% 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
Heavily weighted toward older construction, Cedar Bluff's housing stock carries a median build year of 1971. That profile puts a majority of homes in the era when lead-soldered copper plumbing was standard practice.
Over half of homes in Cedar Bluff 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Cedar Bluff Homeowners
Property equity in Cedar Bluff sits at a moderate ratio to estimated remediation costs — a classification that reframes the household financial perspective from routine maintenance to deliberate budgeting, where most homeowners have a realistic path to addressing documented water and safety issues if they map the financial commitment against available resources before committing to scope.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Cedar Bluff. The estimated $1,900–$4,100 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 51% below the Virginia average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Cedar Bluff
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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 61% pre-rule share in Cedar Bluff keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Cedar Bluff
Over the multi-decade window covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, Cedar Bluff has accumulated 30 claims — a total that suggests more than isolated flood exposure. With 100% of ZIP codes in designated flood zones, the water-quality implications of flooding move from hypothetical to periodically relevant: treatment intake can be compromised, wells can be infiltrated, and distribution backflow can occur.
Cedar Bluff has a moderate flood history with 30 FEMA claims averaging $5,763 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,900</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Cedar Bluff
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 61% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cedar Bluff, VA