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Community Water System · PWS NC0123055

Cleveland County Water

Shelby, North Carolina 28151 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 58,755 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

58,755
People served
213
EPA violations
3
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 213 drinking-water violations at Cleveland County Water, 1% of them health-based - above the North Carolina per-system average.

213
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
58,755
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Cleveland County Water

Cleveland County Water is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 58,755 residents in Shelby, North Carolina (Cleveland County) through 23,132 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 213 total violations for this system , of which 3 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 170 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2020.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is CARBON, TOTAL, recorded in 32 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%).

Cleveland County Water's 213 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
58,755
Total Violations
213
Health-Based Violations
3
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
23,132
County
Cleveland
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
170
Treatment Tech Violations
3

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
CARBON, TOTAL MR 32 2011
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 24 2020
TTHM MR 19 2013
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 14 2009
Public Notice Other 13 2010
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 6 2014
Chlordane MR 6 2014
Toxaphene MR 6 2014
Fluoride MR 5 2007
Nitrate MR 5 2010
Ethylbenzene MR 3 2004
CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 2004
Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 2004
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 2004
Trichloroethylene MR 3 2004
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 3 2004
Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 2004
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 2004
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2004
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2004
Xylenes, Total MR 3 2004
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 3 2003
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2004
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 3 2004
Toluene MR 3 2004
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2004
Vinyl chloride MR 3 2004
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 3 2004
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 2004
Styrene MR 3 2004

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFPeA 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/1/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/1/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/1/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/1/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/1/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/1/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/1/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/1/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/1/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/1/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/1/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/1/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/1/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/1/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/1/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/1/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/1/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/1/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/2/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/2/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/2/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/2/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/2/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/2/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/2/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/2/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 Cleveland County Water.

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 NC0123055 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 Cleveland County Water 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
2020 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 24 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2456
2014 Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 6 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2383
2014 Chlordane MR 6 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2959
2014 Toxaphene MR 6 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2020
2013 TTHM MR 19 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2950
2011 CARBON, TOTAL MR 32 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2920
2010 Public Notice Other 13 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 7500
2010 Nitrate MR 5 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 1040
2009 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 14 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 7000
2007 Fluoride MR 5 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 1025
2004 Ethylbenzene MR 3 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2992
2004 CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2989
2004 Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2987
2004 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2985
2004 Trichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / NC0123055 / 2984

How Cleveland County Water Compares

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

Metric Cleveland County Water North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 213 104.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 3 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 58,755 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 Cleveland County Water water safe to drink? ▼
Cleveland County Water (PWS ID: NC0123055) has 213 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 58,755 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Cleveland County Water serve? ▼
Cleveland County Water serves 58,755 people in Shelby, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 23,132 service connections.
What type of violations does Cleveland County Water have? ▼
Cleveland County Water has 213 total violations: 3 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 170 monitoring/reporting violations, and 3 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Cleveland County Water water? ▼
No. Cleveland County Water was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Cleveland County Water use? ▼
Cleveland County Water 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.

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

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.