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HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF

PWS ID: NC0157015 · HIGHLANDS, North Carolina 28741

HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF serves 6,614 people in HIGHLANDS, North Carolina using Surface Water water sources. It has 361 recorded EPA violations, including 20 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.

Water Quality Snapshot: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF

HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 6,614 residents in HIGHLANDS, North Carolina (Macon County) through 2,604 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 361 total violations for this system , of which 20 (6%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 301 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 2,4-D, recorded in 21 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. HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF's 361 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
6,614
Total Violations
361
Health-Based Violations
20
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,604
County
Macon
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
10
Monitoring Violations
301
Treatment Tech Violations
10

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
2,4-D MR 21 2022
TTHM MR 20 2020
Endrin MR 19 2005
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 18 2020
2,4,5-TP MR 15 2005
Toxaphene MR 15 2005
Methoxychlor MR 15 2005
BHC-GAMMA MR 15 2005
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 10 2023
Arsenic MR 8 1994
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 8 2003
Public Notice Other 7 2021
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 6 2002
CARBON, TOTAL MR 6 2023
Dalapon MR 5 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 5 2005
OXAMYL MR 5 2005
Simazine MR 5 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 5 2005
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 5 2005
Atrazine MR 5 2005
LASSO MR 5 2005
Heptachlor epoxide MR 5 2005
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 5 2005
Pentachlorophenol MR 5 2005
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 5 2005
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 5 2005
Heptachlor MR 5 2005
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 5 2005
Dinoseb MR 5 2005

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

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

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFHxS 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 7/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 7/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 7/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 7/22/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 7/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 7/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 7/22/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/22/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 7/22/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/22/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/22/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 7/22/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 7/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 7/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 4/16/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 4/16/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 4/16/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 4/16/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 4/16/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/16/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 4/16/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/16/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/16/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/16/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 4/16/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 4/16/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/16/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 4/16/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/16/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/16/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 4/16/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 4/16/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 4/16/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 4/16/2024 <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 HIGHLANDS, 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 NC0157015 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 HIGHLANDS, 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 TT 2 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 5200
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 2 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 5200
2023 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 10 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2456
2023 CARBON, TOTAL MR 6 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2920
2022 2,4-D MR 21 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2105
2021 Public Notice Other 7 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 7500
2020 TTHM MR 20 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2950
2020 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 18 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2456
2005 Endrin MR 19 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2005
2005 2,4,5-TP MR 15 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2110
2005 Toxaphene MR 15 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2020
2005 Methoxychlor MR 15 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2015
2005 BHC-GAMMA MR 15 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2010
2005 Dalapon MR 5 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2031
2005 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 5 SDWIS / NC0157015 / 2035

How HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF Compares

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

Metric HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 361 104.4 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 20 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 6,614 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 HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF water safe to drink? ▼
HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF (PWS ID: NC0157015) has 361 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 6,614 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF serve? ▼
HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF serves 6,614 people in HIGHLANDS, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,604 service connections.
What type of violations does HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF have? ▼
HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF has 361 total violations: 20 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 301 monitoring/reporting violations, and 10 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF water? ▼
No. HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF use? ▼
HIGHLANDS, 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.

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