Haywood County, North Carolina
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-04
Covering 8 ZIP codes, Haywood County falls in the average tier for tap water safety — violations appear in a meaningful share of areas, and the data suggests quality depends heavily on which specific part of the county a household sits in.
How Haywood County Compares
How Haywood County Compares
Haywood County scores 7 points below the North Carolina state average (73/100) and 2 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Haywood County, North Carolina
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14 (asthma 10.6%, diabetes 12.3%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,354, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.36% avg pipe failure probability, 43% of ZIPs at high risk
51.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Haywood County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 26 violations. Past 5 years: 35 total (35 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,354
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
39,984 housing units in Haywood County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Haywood County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Haywood County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Haywood County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Haywood County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAYNESVILLE, TOWN OF | 19,758 | 34 |
| 2 | Junaluska Sanitary District | 5,138 | 29 |
| 3 | Maggie Valley Sanitary District | 9,629 | 29 |
| 4 | Lake Junaluska Assembly | 2,273 | 24 |
| 5 | Canton, Town of | 7,850 | 20 |
14 total water systems serve Haywood County.
All ZIP Codes in Haywood County
8 ZIP codes tracked in Haywood County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28745 | Lake Junaluska | 82 | B | 4 (1 health) | $366K |
| 2 | 28785 | Waynesville | 75 | B | 10 (3 health) | $282K |
| 3 | 28786 | Waynesville | 70 | B | 10 (3 health) | $267K |
| 4 | 28751 | Maggie Valley | 68 | C | 5 (2 health) | $289K |
| 5 | 28721 | Clyde | 66 | C | 5 (2 health) | $252K |
| 6 | 28716 | Canton | 63 | C | 5 | $224K |
| 7 | 28738 | Hazelwood | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 8 | 28457 | Rocky Point | 50 | D | 0 | $233K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Haywood County
While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 51.1% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Haywood County, North Carolina
Overview
Haywood County in North Carolina covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).
6 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 11 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to North Carolina water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.