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Community Water System · PWS NC0160010

Charlotte Water

Charlotte, North Carolina 28216 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 1,163,701 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

1,163,701
People served
43
EPA violations
16
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 43 drinking-water violations at Charlotte Water, 37% of them health-based - below the North Carolina per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

43
Total EPA violations on record
37%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
1,163,701
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Charlotte Water

Charlotte Water is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 1,163,701 residents in Charlotte, North Carolina (Mecklenburg County) through 323,527 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 43 total violations for this system , of which 16 (37%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 22 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2014.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Dalapon, recorded in 12 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 9.7 ppt (parts per trillion). 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. Statewide, 174 of 287 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (60.6%).

Charlotte Water's 43 violations sit below 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.

PFAS Detected

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

Population Served
1,163,701
Total Violations
43
Health-Based Violations
16
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
323,527
County
Mecklenburg
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
9
Monitoring Violations
22
Treatment Tech Violations
7

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Dalapon MR 12 2004
Coliform (TCR) MCL 9 2005
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 7 1993
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 2014
TTHM MR 5 2014
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2001

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 6 of 580 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
8:2 FTS 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/8/2023 3.40 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMBA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/8/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/8/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/8/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/8/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/8/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/8/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/8/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/8/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/8/2023 3.40 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/8/2023 5.30 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFHxA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/8/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/8/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/8/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/8/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/8/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 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 Charlotte 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 NC0160010 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 Charlotte 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
2014 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 SDWIS / NC0160010 / 2456
2014 TTHM MR 5 SDWIS / NC0160010 / 2950
2005 Coliform (TCR) MCL 9 SDWIS / NC0160010 / 3100
2004 Dalapon MR 12 SDWIS / NC0160010 / 2031
2001 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / NC0160010 / 7000
1993 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 7 SDWIS / NC0160010 / 0200

How Charlotte Water Compares

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

Metric Charlotte Water North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 43 104.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 16 7.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 2 compounds 60.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 1,163,701 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 Charlotte Water water safe to drink? ▼
Charlotte Water (PWS ID: NC0160010) has 43 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 1,163,701 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Charlotte Water serve? ▼
Charlotte Water serves 1,163,701 people in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 323,527 service connections.
What type of violations does Charlotte Water have? ▼
Charlotte Water has 43 total violations: 16 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 22 monitoring/reporting violations, and 7 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Charlotte Water water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in Charlotte Water's water supply: PFPeA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Charlotte Water use? ▼
Charlotte 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.