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LINCOLN COUNTY WTP

PWS ID: NC0155035 · DENVER, North Carolina 28037

LINCOLN COUNTY WTP serves 49,693 people in DENVER, North Carolina using Surface Water water sources. It has 67 recorded EPA violations, including 38 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (3 compounds found).

Water Quality Snapshot: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP

LINCOLN COUNTY WTP is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 49,693 residents in DENVER, North Carolina (Lincoln County) through 19,564 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 67 total violations for this system , of which 38 (57%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 15 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 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 15 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 3 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 0.0057 ppt. PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

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. LINCOLN COUNTY WTP's 67 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.

PFAS Detected

3 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
49,693
Total Violations
67
Health-Based Violations
38
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
19,564
County
Lincoln
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
22
Monitoring Violations
15
Treatment Tech Violations
16

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 15 2003
CARBON, TOTAL TT 14 2008
Coliform (TCR) MCL 7 1991
Nitrate MR 4 1997
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 1999
Public Notice Other 4 2003
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 4 2016
Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 1992
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 2003
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 2 2024
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TT 2 2024

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 9 of 215 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NEtFOSAA 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 7/2/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 7/2/2025 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/2/2025 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/2/2025 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 7/2/2025 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 7/2/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 7/2/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 7/2/2025 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/2/2025 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 7/2/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 7/2/2025 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 7/2/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 7/2/2025 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 7/2/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 7/2/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 7/2/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 7/2/2025 0.0053 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Detected
PFDA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 7/2/2025 0.0049 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
PFUnA 7/2/2025 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/2/2025 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 7/2/2025 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 7/2/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/2/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/2/2025 <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 LINCOLN COUNTY WTP.

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 NC0155035 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 LINCOLN COUNTY WTP 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 / NC0155035 / 5200
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TT 2 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 5200
2016 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 4 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 0300
2008 CARBON, TOTAL TT 14 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 2920
2003 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 15 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 2456
2003 Public Notice Other 4 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 7500
2003 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 7000
1999 Coliform (TCR) MR 4 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 3100
1997 Nitrate MR 4 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 1040
1992 Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 5000
1991 Coliform (TCR) MCL 7 SDWIS / NC0155035 / 3100

How LINCOLN COUNTY WTP Compares

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

Metric LINCOLN COUNTY WTP North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 67 104.4 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 38 7.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 3 compounds 60.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 49,693 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 LINCOLN COUNTY WTP water safe to drink? ▼
LINCOLN COUNTY WTP (PWS ID: NC0155035) has 67 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 49,693 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does LINCOLN COUNTY WTP serve? ▼
LINCOLN COUNTY WTP serves 49,693 people in DENVER, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 19,564 service connections.
What type of violations does LINCOLN COUNTY WTP have? ▼
LINCOLN COUNTY WTP has 67 total violations: 38 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 15 monitoring/reporting violations, and 16 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in LINCOLN COUNTY WTP water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in LINCOLN COUNTY WTP's water supply: PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does LINCOLN COUNTY WTP use? ▼
LINCOLN COUNTY WTP 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