SANFORD, CITY OF

Q: Is SANFORD, CITY OF water safe to drink?

SANFORD, CITY OF (PWS ID: NC0353010) has 154 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 8 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 48,350 people using Surface Water sources.

Q: What type of violations does SANFORD, CITY OF have?

SANFORD, CITY OF has 154 total violations: 45 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 99 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Q: Has PFAS been detected in SANFORD, CITY OF water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 8 PFAS compounds in SANFORD, CITY OF's water supply: PFPeA, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

Q: What water source does SANFORD, CITY OF use?

SANFORD, CITY OF uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Q: 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.

Reviewed byPlainWater Editorial, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Team · June 3, 2026

PWS ID: NC0353010 · SANFORD, North Carolina 27330

SANFORD, CITY OF serves 48,350 people in SANFORD, North Carolina using Surface Water water sources. It has 154 recorded EPA violations, including 45 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (8 compounds found).

Water Quality Snapshot: SANFORD, CITY OF

SANFORD, CITY OF is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 48,350 residents in SANFORD, North Carolina (Lee County) through 18,961 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 154 total violations for this system , of which 45 (29%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 99 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 25 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 8 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 0.023 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. SANFORD, CITY OF's 154 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

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

Population Served

48,350

Total Violations

154

Health-Based Violations

Water Source

Surface Water

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 18,961
County: Lee
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 43
Monitoring Violations: 99
Treatment Tech Violations: 2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
TTHM	MCL	25	2011
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MCL	15	2010
Toxaphene	MR	6	2014
Heptachlor epoxide	MR	6	2014
BHC-GAMMA	MR	6	2014
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate	MR	6	2014
Methoxychlor	MR	6	2014
HEXACHLOROBENZENE	MR	6	2014
OXAMYL	MR	6	2014
Chlordane	MR	6	2014
Heptachlor	MR	6	2014
LASSO	MR	6	2014
Carbofuran	MR	6	2014
Benzo(a)pyrene	MR	6	2014
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	MR	6	2014
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene	MR	6	2014
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)	MR	6	2014
Endrin	MR	6	2014
Public Notice	Other	5	2011
Coliform (TCR)	MCL	3	2004
Lead and Copper Rule	MR	3	2023
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. 26 of 120 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
NMeFOSAA	7/24/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	7/24/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	7/24/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	7/24/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	6/14/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	6/14/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	6/14/2023	0.0110 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFMBA	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	6/14/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	6/14/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	6/14/2023	0.0048 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
lithium	6/14/2023	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	6/14/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	6/14/2023	0.0049 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFNA	6/14/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	6/14/2023	0.0160 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Detected
PFOA	6/14/2023	0.0075 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Detected
PFDA	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	6/14/2023	0.0120 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	6/14/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	6/14/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	6/14/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	6/14/2023	0.0130 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Detected
HFPO-DA	6/14/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	6/14/2023	0.0072 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFDoA	6/14/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	4/29/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	4/29/2024	0.0056 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Detected
PFHxS	4/29/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	4/29/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	4/29/2024	0.0100 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Detected
PFDA	4/29/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	4/29/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	4/29/2024	0.0068 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFUnA	4/29/2024	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	4/29/2024	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	4/29/2024	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	4/29/2024	0.0055 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	4/29/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	4/29/2024	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	4/29/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	4/29/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	4/29/2024	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	4/29/2024	0.0043 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
ADONA	4/29/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	4/29/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 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 SANFORD, 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 NC0353010 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 SANFORD, 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
2024	LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS	RPT	2	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 5200
2024	LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS	TT	2	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 5200
2023	Lead and Copper Rule	MR	3	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 5000
2014	Toxaphene	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2020
2014	Heptachlor epoxide	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2067
2014	BHC-GAMMA	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2010
2014	Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2035
2014	Methoxychlor	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2015
2014	HEXACHLOROBENZENE	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2274
2014	OXAMYL	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2036
2014	Chlordane	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2959
2014	Heptachlor	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2065
2014	LASSO	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2051
2014	Carbofuran	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2046
2014	Benzo(a)pyrene	MR	6	SDWIS / NC0353010 / 2306

How SANFORD, CITY OF Compares

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

Metric	SANFORD, CITY OF	North Carolina avg	Federal benchmark
Total violations	154	104.4	SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations	45	7.7	Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection	8 compounds	60.6%	EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served	48,350	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 SANFORD, CITY OF water safe to drink? ▼

SANFORD, CITY OF (PWS ID: NC0353010) has 154 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 8 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 48,350 people using Surface Water sources.

How many people does SANFORD, CITY OF serve? ▼

SANFORD, CITY OF serves 48,350 people in SANFORD, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 18,961 service connections.

What type of violations does SANFORD, CITY OF have? ▼

SANFORD, CITY OF has 154 total violations: 45 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 99 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in SANFORD, CITY OF water? ▼

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 8 PFAS compounds in SANFORD, CITY OF's water supply: PFPeA, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does SANFORD, CITY OF use? ▼

SANFORD, 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.

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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.

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