Swain, NC
Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.
Environmental data for Swain in North Carolina · Population: 14,065
TRI sites such as Southern Concrete Materials-Bryson City Plant; Beasley Flooring Products Inc.; SDWIS systems such as CHEROKEE WATER SYSTEM; BRYSON CITY, TOWN OF; CHEROKEE - ROUGH BRANCH WATER SYSTEM anchor Swain, NC's EPA extract. Derived burden score 11/100 (Low Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Swain include CHEROKEE WATER SYSTEM; BRYSON CITY, TOWN OF; CHEROKEE - ROUGH BRANCH WATER SYSTEM, while Southern Concrete Materials-Bryson City Plant leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 38 / peak 83 in 2024.
Burden score 11/100 (Low Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Swain -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy (SG) | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 305 (83%) | 61 | 0 | 83 |
| 2023 | 267 (73%) | 96 | 2 | 115 |
| 2022 | 275 (75%) | 90 | 0 | 89 |
| 2021 | 261 (74%) | 92 | 1 | 147 |
| 2020 | 301 (83%) | 60 | 1 | 119 |
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)
For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in North Carolina, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (6)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| CHEROKEE WATER SYSTEM | 16,203 | 6 |
| BRYSON CITY, TOWN OF | 4,395 | 2 |
| CHEROKEE - ROUGH BRANCH WATER SYSTEM | 233 | 3 |
| CHEROKEE- 3200 ACRE COMMUNITY WS | 164 | 0 |
| CHEROKEE - SNOWBIRD/CORNSILK COMMUNITY | 103 | 0 |
| NANTAHALA OUTDOOR--FLINT RIDGE | 46 | 0 |
TRI Facilities (2)
| # | Facility | Total Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Concrete Materials-Bryson City Plant | 1 lbs |
| 2 | Beasley Flooring Products Inc. | 0 lbs |
Cities in Swain (2)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Swain, North Carolina? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Swain? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Swain? ▼
What is the air quality in Swain? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Swain? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Swain? ▼
What does this county environmental profile show?
This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.