Buncombe County Schools (NC): 40 Health Violations
20 ZIP codes · 17 water systems · 258,446 people served
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Buncombe County Schools: 13 unresolved violations in the water systems serving this district.
Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES
Why School Water Quality Matters
Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.
Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview
The Buncombe County Schools in North Carolina spans 20 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 12 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 19 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.
The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 258,446 across 5 water systems. This is not the district resident population.
The average Home Safety Score under model 4.0.0 across 12 scored ZIP records is C (62/100)
- with the lowest-scoring area at 51/100 .
Water quality in this district falls in the bottom 80% nationally.
Why This Matters for Children
Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:
- Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
- PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
- Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
- Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.
Lead Levels in the District
| Metric | Value | EPA Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Average lead level (90th percentile) | 0.0004 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L |
| Highest lead level | 0.0039 mg/L | 0.015 mg/L |
| ZIP records exceeding EPA action level | 0 of 19 with known status | - |
EPA Violation History
Contaminants of Concern
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 42 | Yes | 19 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 34 | Yes | 12 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 22 | No | 16 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 20 | No | 7 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | Yes | 12 |
| Contaminant 0800 | Other | 16 | Yes | 16 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 15 | No | 9 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 13 | No | 11 |
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High risk)
18 of 20 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1. The zone is not a building measurement; homes and school buildings should be tested directly.
Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code
| ZIP Code | City | Home Safety Score | EPA Violations | Health | Lead Level | Exceeds? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28787 | Weaverville | D (51) | 25 | 5 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28792 | Hendersonville | N/A | 24 | 3 | 0.0039 mg/L | No |
| 28701 | Alexander | D (54) | 19 | 4 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28711 | Black Mountain | C (59) | 19 | 3 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28757 | Montreat | N/A | 14 | 2 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28778 | Swannanoa | C (61) | 14 | 2 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28748 | Leicester | N/A | 12 | 3 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28770 | Ridgecrest | N/A | 11 | 1 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28801 | Asheville | C (63) | 8 | 3 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28804 | Asheville | C (63) | 8 | 3 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28806 | Asheville | C (63) | 8 | 3 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28803 | Asheville | C (64) | 6 | 2 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28759 | Mills River | N/A | 5 | 1 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28732 | Fletcher | N/A | 4 | 1 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28753 | Marshall | N/A | 4 | 0 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28704 | Arden | C (65) | 3 | 1 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28715 | Candler | C (65) | 3 | 1 | 0.0036 mg/L | No |
| 28730 | Fairview | C (65) | 3 | 1 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28805 | Asheville | C (65) | 3 | 1 | 0 mg/L | No |
| 28709 | Barnardsville | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
What Parents Can Do
- Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
- Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
- Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
- Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
- Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.
Need help with school water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the water safe in Buncombe County Schools schools?
EPA system-level records associated with Buncombe County Schools show 40 health-based violations across 19 ZIP records with known health counts. These records do not measure individual school taps. Parents should request current building-level testing results from the school district.
Does Buncombe County Schools test for lead in school water?
Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.
What level of lead is safe for children?
There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- School districts: NCES EDGE Geographic Relationship Files
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.