ZipCheckup grade for 27603: D.

Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.

Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (18 health-based violations). Check your ZIP → NSF certified filters

Health Violations Found
D 50

Raleigh, NC (27603): PFAS Above 2029 MCL Level - 50/100

EPA data combined for 58 water systems mapped to this ZIP (largest mapped system: City of Raleigh)

Health Violations Found PFAS Detected

Health-based violation records by water system:

  • NC4092168 (9)
  • Southern Trace S/d (9)

EPA records for the water systems mapped to 27603 in Raleigh, NC contain 279 recorded violations for inclusive record years 2021 through 2026, all mapped systems combined; 18 are marked health-based.

Data source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SDWIS

Based on EPA Drinking Water FEMA Flood Data U.S. Census CDC Energy Information Admin. USGS Water Data & 9 more federal sources
Latest air quality, EPA records and weather alerts Current data temporarily unavailable
Current EPA violation data unavailable
Water records and current conditions
Current EPA violation data unavailable
Safety Score
D 50/100
Water Quality PFAS above MCL 18 health-based violation records
Lead Risk Below action level Below the reporting limit, 90th percentile, sample period ending 2025-12-31
NFIP Claim History Claim records 37 claims
Data confidence: High (direct measurement) Medium (sampled / sub-geography) Low (modeled / inferred) Methodology →

At a Glance

  • Water EPA records for water systems mapped to this ZIP show 18 health-based violations and 261 non-health-based (since 2021).
  • Lead The reported 90th-percentile lead result is below the laboratory reporting limit, not a measured zero; EPA's health goal for lead is zero.
  • PFAS At least one PFAS result is above an EPA MCL value (UCMR5 sampling; MCL compliance required from 2029).
  • Radon EPA Zone 2 - county-level radon potential, not a home measurement.
  • Flood 37 cumulative NFIP claim records. Check the current FEMA map for a specific address.
Contaminant Summary
Health Violations
279 violations 18 health-based PFAS detected 1 risk identified
Report data assembled: Jul 27, 2026 EPA water-system identity: source date or period is not present in ZipCheckup's accepted source record EPA violation history: more than two update cycles old Lead, copper and UCMR measurements: source date or period is not present in ZipCheckup's accepted source record
D
ZIP-level Home Safety model score: 50 / 100
Bottom 7% of U.S. ZIP codes
58
Water Systems
650,000
People Served
18
Health Violations (since 2021)Median is 0
Surface water
Water Source
Zone 2
County Radon Potential · Moderate
$347K
Median Home Value71% above state median ($203K)

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Score Breakdown

Overall Home Safety Score: 50/100

This is the published model score. Component and domain values are shown independently; they are not added together on this page.

Canonical components

EPA water compliance
0/100
Observed
PFAS MCL screen
0/100
Observed
EPA radon zone
50/100
Observed
Annual EPA AirData AQI
100/100
Observed

Required domains

Drinking water
0/100
Indoor environment
50/100
Outdoor environment
100/100

Coverage: 4 of 4 components and 3 of 3 domains observed.

Model 4.0.0; series home-safety-v4-cross-vertical.

Safety & Health (8) CRITICAL

Your Water System

ZIP code 27603 in Raleigh, North Carolina is mapped to the water system City of Raleigh (EPA ID: NC0392010). This system provides water to approximately 650,000 people from surface water sources.

There are 58 community water systems serving this area.

Water Systems Serving This Area

System Name EPA ID Population Source
City of Raleigh, NC0392010 650,000 Surface water
Fuquay-varina, Town of NC0392055 42,954 Surface water
Whittingham Master System NC4092039 680 Groundwater
Johnston Company-west NC0351070 99,027 Surface water
Crest of Carolina Master NC4092006 564 Groundwater

Other Water Quality Reports in North Carolina

Nearby Water Quality Reports

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View available EPA compliance records for City of Raleigh (NC0392010) on EPA.gov.

4 of the top compounds applied across the surrounding county in USGS pesticide-use estimates appear on EPA drinking-water monitoring lists. See the agricultural pesticide-use section.

📊 EPA Safe Drinking Water · View source →

PFAS Contamination Detected

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with ZIP code 27603. One or more compound results are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL with compliance required from 2029.

Detected compounds: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFBS, PFOS, PFOA, PFHpA, 6:2 FTS, PFHxS.

Highest measured level: 0.021 µg/L

Reverse osmosis (RO) and activated carbon block filters can reduce PFAS at the tap. Certifications list the compounds covered: an NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 claim for PFOA/PFOS does not cover every PFAS, so check that the product lists the compounds detected here.

📊 EPA UCMR5 · View source →

Health Risks from Detected Contaminants

Gross Alpha Particle Activity

High Risk

EPA reference value: pCi/L · 22 violations on record

Increased cancer risk from radioactive particles

At-risk groups: long-term residents in areas with uranium or radium-rich geology, people on private wells in western US

Treatment options (verify a product is certified to reduce this contaminant): reverse osmosis, ion exchange, lime softening · Find a filter →

📊 EPA SDWIS + SDWA · View source →
Environmental Hazards (11) MODERATE
Home & Infrastructure (7) OK
Cost & Community (9) HIGH

CPSC product recall notices

These national notices are not matched to this ZIP code or water system.

View all recalls →

📊 CPSC · View source →

Protect Your Home in Raleigh

Based on local data for ZIP 27603, these services may benefit homeowners in your area.

Based on local data for your area. Use the tools below to explore your options.

Home & Flood Insurance

The ZIP code for this report in Raleigh has 37 FEMA flood claims on record. Standard homeowner policies don't cover flood damage - make sure you're protected.

Typical cost: Flood insurance: premiums vary by property and flood zone; request a quote

Check Your Flood Zone (Free)

FEMA flood map lookup - see if your property is in a flood zone

Free tip: Check your FEMA flood zone at msc.fema.gov (free lookup)

Roofing Inspection & Repair

Active weather alerts in North Carolina increase the risk of roof damage from hail and high winds. A professional inspection can identify vulnerabilities.

Typical cost: Roof inspection: typically $75–$300; repairs $300–$1,500

Estimate Your Home Insurance Needs

Service recommendations are based on public data for this ZIP code (FEMA, Census ACS, NWS). Actual needs vary by property. By calling, your information will be shared with an independent service provider. ZipCheckup may receive compensation. Cost estimates are approximate and vary by property, condition, and contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water in 27603 safe to drink?

EPA SDWIS records 279 violations since 2021 across the water systems mapped to ZIP 27603 (primary system: City of Raleigh), including 18 health-based. The violation table above shows which system each record belongs to. ZipCheckup last updated this page in July 2026. The federal source release date is unavailable, so that month is not presented as source currency.

Where does 27603's water come from?

The recorded water source for City of Raleigh, a system mapped to ZIP code 27603, is Surface water. This system serves approximately 650,000 people.

How does Raleigh water compare to the national average?

Raleigh's Home Safety Score ranks lower than 93% of U.S. ZIP codes, and lower than 100% of ZIP codes within North Carolina.

How can I get my water tested in Raleigh?

If City of Raleigh supplies your home, contact it for its Consumer Confidence Report; otherwise contact the water utility that serves your address, or hire a certified lab for independent home water testing. The EPA recommends annual testing if you use a private well.

What is the radon risk for 27603?

27603 is mapped to a county in EPA Radon Zone 2 (moderate county-level radon potential; EPA recommends testing every home), located in Wake County. EPA radon zones range from Zone 1 (highest county-level potential) to Zone 3 (lowest). Testing your home is recommended regardless of zone.

Are there PFAS (forever chemicals) in 27603's water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in samples from water systems mapped to 27603. One or more PFAS results are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL with compliance required from 2029. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 specifically for PFOA/PFOS reduction can reduce PFAS.

What does the NFIP claim history show for ZIP 27603?

FEMA records contain 37 flood insurance claims filed in ZIP code 27603; the recorded rated-zone value (the most frequent one if there are several claims) is X, which is claims evidence and may differ from the current FEMA map zone for a property. Claim records do not establish current property risk. Review FEMA's map for the specific property.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Raleigh, NC (27603): PFAS Above 2029 MCL Level - 50/100. https://zipcheckup.com/report/27603/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-report-27603,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Raleigh, NC (27603): PFAS Above 2029 MCL Level - 50/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/report/27603/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

Nearby ZIP Code Reports

Water quality comparison for ZIP codes near 27603

ZIP Code City, State Distance Grade Violations
27602 Raleigh, NC 3.6 mi N/A 0
27529 Garner, NC 3.8 mi D 80
27697 Raleigh, NC 4.6 mi N/A 0
27601 Raleigh, NC 4.7 mi N/A 0
27606 Raleigh, NC 5.0 mi D 43
27610 Raleigh, NC 5.1 mi D 46
27605 Raleigh, NC 5.8 mi N/A 0
27611 Raleigh, NC 6.5 mi N/A 0
27620 Raleigh, NC 6.5 mi N/A 0
27621 Raleigh, NC 6.5 mi N/A 0

Contaminants Detected in 27603

Learn more about the contaminants found in your water supply:

Overall safety breakdown

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