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ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST

PWS ID: NC0102020 · HICKORY, North Carolina 28603

ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST serves 13,064 people in HICKORY, North Carolina using Surface Water water sources. It has 15 recorded EPA violations, including 4 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.

Water Quality Snapshot: ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST

ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 13,064 residents in HICKORY, North Carolina (Alexander County) through 5,205 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 15 total violations for this system , of which 4 (27%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 8 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 5 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across North Carolina, EPA tracks 5,020 public water systems serving 9,877,724 people, with 524,053 cumulative violations and 38,492 health-based violations on record. About 93% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 104.4 violations. ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST's 15 violations sit below the North Carolina average. Statewide, 174 of 287 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (60.6%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
13,064
Total Violations
15
Health-Based Violations
4
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
5,205
County
Alexander
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
8
Treatment Tech Violations
4

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 2025
Lead and Copper Rule TT 4 1994
Chlorine MR 3 2007
Public Notice Other 2 2009
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 1 2006

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 120 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NFDHA 8/17/2023 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 8/17/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 8/17/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 8/17/2023 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 8/17/2023 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/17/2023 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/17/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/17/2023 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/17/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/17/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 8/17/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/17/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/17/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 8/17/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 8/17/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 8/17/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 8/17/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 8/17/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/17/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/6/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/6/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/6/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 5/6/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 5/6/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 5/6/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 5/6/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 5/6/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 5/6/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 5/6/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 5/6/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 5/6/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 5/6/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 5/6/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 5/6/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 5/6/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 5/6/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/6/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 5/6/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 5/6/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records — or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status — go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS — Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID NC0102020 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

North Carolina Drinking Water Authority

North Carolina DEQ — Public Water Supply Section is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST under EPA-delegated authority.

Open NC regulator portal

Source: North Carolina DEQ — Public Water Supply Section

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2025 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 SDWIS / NC0102020 / 2456
2009 Public Notice Other 2 SDWIS / NC0102020 / 7500
2007 Chlorine MR 3 SDWIS / NC0102020 / 0999
2006 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 1 SDWIS / NC0102020 / 7000
1994 Lead and Copper Rule TT 4 SDWIS / NC0102020 / 5000

How ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 15 104.4 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 4 7.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 60.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 13,064 1,968 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 5,020 regulated public water systems in North Carolina.

Federal MCL reference — Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST water safe to drink? ▼
ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST (PWS ID: NC0102020) has 15 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 13,064 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST serve? ▼
ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST serves 13,064 people in HICKORY, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 5,205 service connections.
What type of violations does ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST have? ▼
ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST has 15 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 8 monitoring/reporting violations, and 4 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST water? ▼
No. ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST use? ▼
ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial