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Community Water System · PWS NC0120010

Murphy, Town Of

Murphy, North Carolina 28906 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 4,498 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

4,498
People served
167
EPA violations
8
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 167 drinking-water violations at Murphy, Town Of, 5% of them health-based - above the North Carolina per-system average.

167
Total EPA violations on record
5%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
4,498
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Murphy, Town Of

Murphy, Town Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 4,498 residents in Murphy, North Carolina (Cherokee County) through 1,771 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 167 total violations for this system , of which 8 (5%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 117 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2024.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 6 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. Statewide, 174 of 287 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (60.6%).

Murphy, Town Of's 167 violations sit above the North Carolina average.

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
4,498
Total Violations
167
Health-Based Violations
8
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,771
County
Cherokee
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
117
Treatment Tech Violations
8

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 2022
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 2004
BHC-GAMMA MR 4 2005
Methoxychlor MR 4 2005
Toxaphene MR 4 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 4 2005
Simazine MR 4 2005
Dinoseb MR 4 2005
Carbofuran MR 4 2005
Heptachlor MR 4 2005
Heptachlor epoxide MR 4 2005
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 4 2005
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 4 2005
Pentachlorophenol MR 4 2005
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 4 2005
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 4 2005
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 4 2005
Chlordane MR 4 2005
Public Notice Other 4 2009
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 2012
Atrazine MR 4 2005
OXAMYL MR 4 2005
Endrin MR 4 2005
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 4 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 4 2005
2,4,5-TP MR 4 2005
Dalapon MR 4 2005
Picloram MR 4 2005
2,4-D MR 4 2005
LASSO MR 4 2005

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 87 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFPeS 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/8/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/8/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/8/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/8/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/8/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/8/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/9/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/9/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/9/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/9/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/9/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/9/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/9/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/9/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/9/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/9/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt 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 Murphy, Town Of.

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 NC0120010 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 Murphy, Town Of 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
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 2 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 5200
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TT 2 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 5200
2022 Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 5000
2012 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 0300
2009 Public Notice Other 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 7500
2007 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 7000
2005 BHC-GAMMA MR 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 2010
2005 Methoxychlor MR 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 2015
2005 Toxaphene MR 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 2020
2005 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 2035
2005 Simazine MR 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 2037
2005 Dinoseb MR 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 2041
2005 Carbofuran MR 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 2046
2005 Heptachlor MR 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 2065
2005 Heptachlor epoxide MR 4 SDWIS / NC0120010 / 2067

How Murphy, Town Of Compares

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

Metric Murphy, Town Of North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 167 104.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 8 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 4,498 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 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Murphy, Town Of water safe to drink?
Murphy, Town Of (PWS ID: NC0120010) has 167 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 4,498 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Murphy, Town Of serve?
Murphy, Town Of serves 4,498 people in Murphy, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 1,771 service connections.
What type of violations does Murphy, Town Of have?
Murphy, Town Of has 167 total violations: 8 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 117 monitoring/reporting violations, and 8 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Murphy, Town Of water?
No. Murphy, Town Of was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Murphy, Town Of use?
Murphy, Town Of 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.
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.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.