PlainWater

PITTSBORO, TOWN OF

PWS ID: NC0319015 · SANFORD, North Carolina 27331

PITTSBORO, TOWN OF serves 6,060 people in SANFORD, North Carolina using Surface Water water sources. It has 261 recorded EPA violations, including 140 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (3 compounds found).

Water Quality Snapshot: PITTSBORO, TOWN OF

PITTSBORO, TOWN OF is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 6,060 residents in SANFORD, North Carolina (Chatham County) through 2,036 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 261 total violations for this system , of which 140 (54%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 84 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 TTHM, recorded in 117 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 0.0124 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. PITTSBORO, TOWN OF's 261 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.

PFAS Detected

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

Population Served
6,060
Total Violations
261
Health-Based Violations
140
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,036
County
Chatham
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
121
Monitoring Violations
84
Treatment Tech Violations
19

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 117 2009
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 23 2021
CARBON, TOTAL TT 13 2005
Public Notice Other 11 2009
Nitrate MR 10 2006
Coliform (TCR) MR 10 2009
Endrin MR 8 1984
Lead and Copper Rule MR 7 2024
Simazine MR 7 2014
Methoxychlor MR 6 1984
Toxaphene MR 6 1984
2,4,5-TP MR 6 1984
BHC-GAMMA MR 6 1984
2,4-D MR 6 1984
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 2004
CARBON, TOTAL MR 4 2004
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 2009
Arsenic MR 4 1983
Chlorine MR 3 2009
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TT 2 2024
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 2 2024
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule MR 1 2008

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 7 of 120 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/12/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/12/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 8/12/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 8/12/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 8/12/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 8/12/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/12/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/12/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 8/12/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 8/12/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/12/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 8/12/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 8/12/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/12/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/12/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/12/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 8/12/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 8/12/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 8/12/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 5/14/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/14/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 5/14/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 5/14/2024 0.0094 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/14/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 5/14/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/14/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 5/14/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 5/14/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 5/14/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 5/14/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 5/14/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 5/14/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 5/14/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/14/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 5/14/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/14/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/14/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 5/14/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 5/14/2024 0.0057 µg/L 0.003 µg/L 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 PITTSBORO, 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 NC0319015 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 PITTSBORO, 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 MR 7 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 5000
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TT 2 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 5200
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 2 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 5200
2021 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 23 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 7000
2014 Simazine MR 7 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 2037
2009 TTHM MCL 117 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 2950
2009 Public Notice Other 11 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 7500
2009 Coliform (TCR) MR 10 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 3100
2009 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 0200
2009 Chlorine MR 3 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 0999
2008 Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule MR 1 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 0600
2006 Nitrate MR 10 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 1040
2005 CARBON, TOTAL TT 13 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 2920
2004 Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 3100
2004 CARBON, TOTAL MR 4 SDWIS / NC0319015 / 2920

How PITTSBORO, TOWN OF Compares

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

Metric PITTSBORO, TOWN OF North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 261 104.4 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 140 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 6,060 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 PITTSBORO, TOWN OF water safe to drink?
PITTSBORO, TOWN OF (PWS ID: NC0319015) has 261 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 6,060 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does PITTSBORO, TOWN OF serve?
PITTSBORO, TOWN OF serves 6,060 people in SANFORD, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,036 service connections.
What type of violations does PITTSBORO, TOWN OF have?
PITTSBORO, TOWN OF has 261 total violations: 140 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 84 monitoring/reporting violations, and 19 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in PITTSBORO, TOWN OF water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in PITTSBORO, TOWN OF's water supply: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does PITTSBORO, TOWN OF use?
PITTSBORO, 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.

Explore PlainWater

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.

Related

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