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Community Water System · PWS NC0201010

Burlington, City Of

Burlington, North Carolina 27216 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 61,365 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

61,365
People served
161
EPA violations
24
Health-based
7 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 161 drinking-water violations at Burlington, City Of, 15% of them health-based - above the North Carolina per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds.

161
Total EPA violations on record
15%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
61,365
People served by this system
7
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Burlington, City Of

Burlington, City Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 61,365 residents in Burlington, North Carolina (Alamance County) through 25,704 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 161 total violations for this system , of which 24 (15%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 133 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2021.

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, 7 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 17 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%).

Burlington, City Of's 161 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.

PFAS Detected

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

Population Served
61,365
Total Violations
161
Health-Based Violations
24
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
25,704
County
Alamance
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
24
Monitoring Violations
133
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 15 2013
Revised Total Coliform Rule MCL 7 2021
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 6 2004
Trichloroethylene MR 6 2004
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 6 2004
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 6 2004
Vinyl chloride MR 6 2004
Styrene MR 6 2004
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 6 2004
Carbon tetrachloride MR 6 2004
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 6 2004
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 6 2004
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 6 2004
Ethylbenzene MR 6 2004
Benzene MR 6 2004
CHLOROBENZENE MR 6 2004
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 6 2004
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 6 2004
Xylenes, Total MR 6 2004
Toluene MR 6 2004
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 6 2004
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 6 2004
Tetrachloroethylene MR 6 2004
Endrin MR 4 1981
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2019
Thallium, Total MR 3 2004
Coliform (TCR) MCL 2 1995

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 22 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/12/2024 6.50 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/12/2024 4.80 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/12/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/12/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/12/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/12/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/12/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/12/2024 4.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMPA 7/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/12/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/12/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/12/2024 17.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 7/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/12/2024 <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 Burlington, City 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 NC0201010 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 Burlington, City 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
2021 Revised Total Coliform Rule MCL 7 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 8000
2019 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 7000
2013 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 15 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2456
2004 cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2380
2004 Trichloroethylene MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2984
2004 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2983
2004 1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2981
2004 Vinyl chloride MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2976
2004 Styrene MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2996
2004 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2985
2004 Carbon tetrachloride MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2982
2004 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2980
2004 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2979
2004 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2969
2004 Ethylbenzene MR 6 SDWIS / NC0201010 / 2992

How Burlington, City Of Compares

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

Metric Burlington, City Of North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 161 104.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 24 7.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 7 compounds 60.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 61,365 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 Burlington, City Of water safe to drink?
Burlington, City Of (PWS ID: NC0201010) has 161 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 7 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 61,365 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Burlington, City Of serve?
Burlington, City Of serves 61,365 people in Burlington, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 25,704 service connections.
What type of violations does Burlington, City Of have?
Burlington, City Of has 161 total violations: 24 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 133 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Burlington, City Of water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds in Burlington, City Of's water supply: PFOS, PFOA, PFPeA, PFHxS, PFHpA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Burlington, City Of use?
Burlington, City 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.
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.
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.