A
85

US Water Score: A

Hudson, NC 28638

Caldwell County · Population served: 25,573 · Data updated July 2026

Service-area evidence: EPA service-area records associate the listed system with this ZIP. Boundaries may still overlap or change.

Water Systems Serving This Area

🏔
LENOIR, CITY OF
Surface water · Pop. 25,573
PWSID: NC0114010
🏔
CALDWELL CO WATER SYSTEM-SE
Surface water · Pop. 15,007
PWSID: NC0114047
🏔
CALDWELL COUNTY WATER--WEST
Surface water · Pop. 8,662
PWSID: NC0114045
🏔
BATON WATER CORPORATION
Surface water · Pop. 7,620
PWSID: NC0114025
🏔
SAWMILLS, TOWN OF
Surface water · Pop. 5,524
PWSID: NC0114040

Contaminants Detected

ContaminantDetected LevelEPA MCLHealth GuidelineStatus
Lead
0.0
15 ppb 1 ppb Passed

Violation History (Last 5 Years)

8Total (5yr)
2Health-Based
4Major

Water Quality Summary

Understanding Your Water in Hudson

Tap water quality in Hudson, North Carolina (28638) receives an overall grade of A (Lower record-based concern) with a score of 85 out of 100, based on analysis of EPA compliance data, contaminant testing, and violation history. This is 6 points below the North Carolina state average of 90. The area is served by 5 water systems providing water to approximately 25,573 people, using surface water sources. Over the past 5 years, water systems here have accumulated 8 violations, including 2 health-based violations.

Your Score 85/100 A
vs State 6 pts below North Carolina avg (90)
vs National 10 pts above national avg (75)

What a Grade A Means

A score of 85/100 means public water-system records for Hudson, NC show relatively few concerns in the US Water Score model. This is an internal score, not an EPA safety rating, and it does not guarantee conditions at any specific tap.

Surface water: sourced from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs

Health Information

What These Contaminants Mean for You

⚠️

Lead in Your Water

Lead is a toxic metal that can leach from aging pipes and plumbing fixtures.

Health Effects

Even low levels of lead exposure can cause developmental delays in children, kidney damage, and cardiovascular effects in adults. The EPA action level is 15 ppb, but health experts recommend no safe level of lead in drinking water.

Common Sources

Lead enters water primarily through corrosion of lead service lines, lead solder, and brass fixtures — especially in homes built before 1986.

What You Can Do

If lead is detected above 1 ppb, consider using a certified lead-removal filter (NSF/ANSI 53) for drinking and cooking water. Run cold water for 30 seconds before use if water has been sitting in pipes.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on public water-system records, Hudson, North Carolina receives an internal US Water Score grade of A (Lower record-based concern) with a score of 85/100. This indicates relatively few system-level concerns in our model, but it is not an EPA safety rating and does not guarantee tap conditions inside individual homes.

ZIP code 28638 is served by 5 water systems using surface water sources, providing water to approximately 25,573 people. Surface water systems are more susceptible to contamination from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and weather events, but typically undergo more extensive treatment including filtration and disinfection.

Lead levels in Hudson, North Carolina are 0.0 ppb, which is at or below the health guideline of 1 ppb. This is a positive result, though periodic testing is still recommended.

No PFAS ("forever chemicals") were detected in water systems serving Hudson, North Carolina during the most recent EPA monitoring period (UCMR5). However, not all water systems have been tested for all PFAS compounds, and new contamination can occur over time.

Water systems serving Hudson, North Carolina have received 8 violations in the last 5 years, including 2 health-based violations. Violations can range from paperwork issues (monitoring & reporting) to serious health-based violations where contaminant levels exceeded safe limits. Review the violation details above for specifics.

Water in Hudson, North Carolina shows no major contaminant concerns based on available data. A basic carbon filter can improve taste and reduce chlorine. For extra peace of mind, an NSF-certified pitcher filter or faucet-mount filter provides an affordable layer of protection.

Explore Nearby

Water Quality in Nearby ZIP Codes