COUNTY REPORT VA

Covington County, Virginia

1 ZIP code · Avg score 50/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03

State safety rankings put Covington County near the bottom — 1 ZIP code, below-average compliance.

How Covington County Compares

Covington County50/100
Virginia avg66/100
National avg68/100

How Covington County Compares

D
County Grade
50/100
Avg Safety Score
1
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems

Covington County scores 16 points below the Virginia state average (66/100) and 18 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

D
County Grade
50
Avg Safety Score
1
ZIP Codes
Only ZIP: 24426
$114K
Median Home Value
$2,700
Avg Remediation (238% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.3 (asthma 11.7%, diabetes 16.6%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,570, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.46% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk

75% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2024)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Covington County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2023
1 (1 health)
2024
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2023 with 1 violation. Past 5 years: 2 total (2 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.7% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.6% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.7% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1964
Median Build Year
75%
Pre-1978 Housing
46%
Pipe Failure Probability
100%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,570

Flood $2,800/yr
Energy Code Gap $540/yr
Water / Lead $150/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

7,223 housing units in Covington County

Pre-1940 20%
1940–1959 24%
1960–1979 24%
1980–1999 22%
2000+ 10%

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 Covington County

$114K
Median Home Value
$2,700
Est. Remediation Cost
2.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value moderate burden

Water safety remediation is a moderate expense relative to home values. Most homeowners can address issues through staged improvements over time.

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 Covington County residents

Asthma 11.7% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 16.6% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.7% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Covington County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 City of Covington, 5,961 6
2 Pounding Mill 1,965 6
3 Selma / Low Moor / Valley Ridge 1,884 6
4 Cliftondale Park/ Wilson Creek/ Sharon 1,860 6
5 Intervale/clearwater Park 1,332 6

All ZIP Codes in Covington County

1 ZIP code tracked in Covington County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 24426 Covington 50 D 6 (2 health) $114K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Covington County

Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.

Overview

Covington County in Virginia covers 1 ZIP code with an average Home Safety Score of D (50/100).

1 of 1 ZIP code have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Virginia water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

What You Can Do

Covington County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.

1

Test your tap water

Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.

2

Consider a certified water filter

NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher

3

Contact your water utility

Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.

4

Check for lead in your home

75% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Covington County?
Covington County receives a grade of D. 1 of 1 ZIP codes have health-based violations. Independent water testing is recommended.
How many water systems serve Covington County?
Covington County is served by 5 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 1 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Covington County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Covington County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $3,570 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Covington County?
The median home build year in Covington County is 1964. 75% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Covington County compare to Virginia?
Covington County has an average water safety score of 50/100, which is below the Virginia state average of 66/100.

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