Rowan County, North Carolina
18 ZIP codes · Avg score 75/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
The 18 water systems serving Rowan County show strong compliance with federal drinking water standards.
How Rowan County Compares
How Rowan County Compares
Rowan County scores 2 points above the North Carolina state average (73/100) and 7 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Rowan 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: 13.9 (asthma 11%, diabetes 12.6%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $723, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.351% avg pipe failure probability, 22% of ZIPs at high risk
50.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Rowan County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 10 violations. Past 5 years: 21 total (21 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: $723
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
60,117 housing units in Rowan 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 Rowan County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Rowan 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 Rowan 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 Rowan County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, Town of | 872 | 22 |
| 2 | City of Statesville, | 30,843 | 22 |
| 3 | Iredell Water Corporation | 27,173 | 22 |
| 4 | Cedar Glenn Mhp Inc. | 198 | 22 |
| 5 | Lake Ridge S/d | 122 | 22 |
28 total water systems serve Rowan County.
All ZIP Codes in Rowan County
18 ZIP codes tracked in Rowan County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28039 | East Spencer | 99 | A | 0 | — |
| 2 | 27013 | Cleveland | 98 | A | 22 (1 health) | $196K |
| 3 | 28137 | Richfield | 87 | A | 0 | $251K |
| 4 | 28138 | Rockwell | 87 | A | 0 | $204K |
| 5 | 28159 | Spencer | 87 | A | 0 | $160K |
| 6 | 28088 | Landis | 84 | B | 5 | $226K |
| 7 | 27054 | Woodleaf | 73 | B | 0 | $210K |
| 8 | 27299 | Linwood | 73 | B | 0 | $200K |
| 9 | 28125 | Mount Ulla | 73 | B | 0 | $305K |
| 10 | 28145 | Salisbury | 69 | C | 1 (1 health) | — |
| 11 | 28147 | Salisbury | 69 | C | 1 (1 health) | $242K |
| 12 | 28023 | China Grove | 67 | C | 4 | $210K |
| 13 | 27351 | Southmont | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 14 | 28071 | Gold Hill | 66 | C | 0 | $210K |
| 15 | 28072 | Granite Quarry | 66 | C | 0 | $187K |
| 16 | 28041 | Faith | 65 | C | 4 (1 health) | — |
| 17 | 28144 | Salisbury | 64 | C | 1 (1 health) | $206K |
| 18 | 28146 | Salisbury | 64 | C | 1 (1 health) | $228K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Rowan County
Filtered against EPA monitoring data and CDC lead-exposure guidance, the guides below skip the generic catalog and connect directly to the contaminants and hazards on file here.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 50.1% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Rowan County, North Carolina
Overview
Rowan County in North Carolina covers 18 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (75/100).
8 of 18 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 6 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.