CANTON, TOWN OF

Q: Is CANTON, TOWN OF water safe to drink?

CANTON, TOWN OF (PWS ID: NC0144015) has 183 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 7,850 people using Surface Water sources.

Q: What type of violations does CANTON, TOWN OF have?

CANTON, TOWN OF has 183 total violations: 10 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 166 monitoring/reporting violations, and 10 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Q: Has PFAS been detected in CANTON, TOWN OF water?

No. CANTON, TOWN OF was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

Q: What water source does CANTON, TOWN OF use?

CANTON, TOWN OF uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Q: 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.

Reviewed byPlainWater Editorial, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Team · June 4, 2026

PWS ID: NC0144015 · CANTON, North Carolina 28716

CANTON, TOWN OF serves 7,850 people in CANTON, North Carolina using Surface Water water sources. It has 183 recorded EPA violations, including 10 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.

Water Quality Snapshot: CANTON, TOWN OF

CANTON, TOWN OF is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 7,850 residents in CANTON, North Carolina (Haywood County) through 3,477 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 183 total violations for this system , of which 10 (5%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 166 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2018.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Arsenic, recorded in 20 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. CANTON, TOWN OF's 183 violations sit above 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

7,850

Total Violations

183

Health-Based Violations

Water Source

Surface Water

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 3,477
County: Haywood
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 0
Monitoring Violations: 166
Treatment Tech Violations: 10

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Arsenic	MR	20	1996
Lead and Copper Rule	MR	17	1993
Cadmium	MR	16	1996
Barium	MR	16	1996
Mercury	MR	16	1996
Selenium	MR	16	1996
Chromium	MR	16	1996
Fluoride	MR	16	1996
Nitrate	MR	13	1991
Surface Water Treatment Rule	TT	10	1994
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	MR	5	2018
Beryllium, Total	MR	3	1996
Thallium, Total	MR	3	1996
Antimony, Total	MR	3	1996
Nickel	MR	3	1996
CYANIDE	MR	3	1996
Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	1	1999

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

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

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
HFPO-DA	7/18/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	7/18/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	7/18/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	7/18/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	7/18/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	7/18/2023	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	7/18/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	7/18/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	7/18/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	7/18/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	7/18/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	7/18/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	7/18/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	7/18/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	7/18/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	7/18/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	7/18/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	7/18/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	7/18/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	5/24/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	5/24/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	5/24/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	5/24/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	5/24/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	5/24/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	5/24/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	5/24/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	5/24/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	5/24/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	5/24/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	5/24/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	5/24/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	5/24/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	5/24/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	5/24/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	5/24/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	5/24/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	5/24/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	5/24/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 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 CANTON, 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 NC0144015 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 CANTON, 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
2018	Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	MR	5	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 0300
1999	Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	1	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 7000
1996	Arsenic	MR	20	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1005
1996	Cadmium	MR	16	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1015
1996	Barium	MR	16	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1010
1996	Mercury	MR	16	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1035
1996	Selenium	MR	16	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1045
1996	Chromium	MR	16	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1020
1996	Fluoride	MR	16	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1025
1996	Beryllium, Total	MR	3	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1075
1996	Thallium, Total	MR	3	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1085
1996	Antimony, Total	MR	3	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1074
1996	Nickel	MR	3	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1036
1996	CYANIDE	MR	3	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 1024
1994	Surface Water Treatment Rule	TT	10	SDWIS / NC0144015 / 0200

How CANTON, TOWN OF Compares

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

Metric	CANTON, TOWN OF	North Carolina avg	Federal benchmark
Total violations	183	104.4	SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations	10	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	7,850	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 CANTON, TOWN OF water safe to drink? ▼

CANTON, TOWN OF (PWS ID: NC0144015) has 183 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 7,850 people using Surface Water sources.

How many people does CANTON, TOWN OF serve? ▼

CANTON, TOWN OF serves 7,850 people in CANTON, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 3,477 service connections.

What type of violations does CANTON, TOWN OF have? ▼

CANTON, TOWN OF has 183 total violations: 10 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 166 monitoring/reporting violations, and 10 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in CANTON, TOWN OF water? ▼

No. CANTON, TOWN OF was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

What water source does CANTON, TOWN OF use? ▼

CANTON, 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.

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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.

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