COUNTY REPORT VA

Russell County, Virginia

8 ZIP codes · Avg score 54/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-04

Water safety in Russell County ranks low — 8 ZIP codes, persistent health-based violations on record.

How Russell County Compares

Russell County54/100
Virginia avg66/100
National avg68/100

How Russell County Compares

D
County Grade
54/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
10
Water Systems

Russell County scores 12 points below the Virginia state average (66/100) and 14 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04

D
County Grade
54
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 24260 (69/100)
Lowest ZIP: 24280 (40/100)
$109K
Median Home Value
$2,400
Avg Remediation (220% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Russell County, Virginia

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 16.4 (asthma 11.5%, diabetes 15.8%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,113, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.356% avg pipe failure probability, 25% of ZIPs at high risk

66.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.5% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15.8% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1973
Median Build Year
66.1%
Pre-1978 Housing
36%
Pipe Failure Probability
25%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
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: $1,113

Energy Code Gap $506/yr
Flood $425/yr
Water / Lead $181/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

12,892 housing units in Russell County

Pre-1940 8%
1940–1959 14%
1960–1979 32%
1980–1999 32%
2000+ 14%

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 Russell County

$109K
Median Home Value
$2,400
Est. Remediation Cost
2.2%
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 Russell County residents

Asthma 11.5% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15.8% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40% (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 Russell County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Lebanon, Town of 3,458 36
2 Honaker, Town of 2,250 32
3 Cleveland, Town of 340 29
4 Wallace Manor 223 29
5 Castlewood - Rcpsa 5,565 4

10 total water systems serve Russell County.

All ZIP Codes in Russell County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Russell County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 24260 Honaker 69 C 3 $97K
2 24266 Lebanon 68 C 4 $132K
3 24224 Castlewood 62 C 0 $113K
4 24646 Rowe 53 D 0 $76K
5 24225 Cleveland 51 D 29 $107K
6 24237 Dante 45 D 0 $87K
7 24283 Saint Paul 45 D 0 $112K
8 24280 Rosedale 40 D 0 $259K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Russell County

Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.

Overview

Russell County in Virginia covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (54/100).

3 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Virginia water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

What You Can Do

Russell 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

66.1% 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 Russell County?
Russell County receives a grade of D. 0 of 8 ZIP codes have health-based violations. Independent water testing is recommended.
How many water systems serve Russell County?
Russell County is served by 10 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Russell County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Russell County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,113 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Russell County?
The median home build year in Russell County is 1973. 66.1% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Russell County compare to Virginia?
Russell County has an average water safety score of 54/100, which is below the Virginia state average of 66/100.

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