Watauga County, NC

ZIP 28618

In ZIP 28618, 4 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Blue Ridge Mtn Club meets every EPA legal limit; 9 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 38× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: Ore Knob Mine, 9.3 miles away.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: U.S. Chemical Storage LLC (99%), mostly chromium.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.6 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 47,521 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 28618

• Superfund sites nearbyA to C
• Factories and industrial sitesA to B
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB to C
• Air qualityA
• Drinking water qualityD to F
• Pesticide useD
• Neighborhood health statusC to F
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsB
• Noise levelsA
• Radiation signalsD

Based on 4 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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