PlainWater
States → North Carolina

Community Water System · PWS NC0353127

Farm Water Works

Sanford, North Carolina 27331 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 167 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

167
People served
822
EPA violations
32
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 822 drinking-water violations at Farm Water Works, 4% of them health-based - above the North Carolina per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

822
Total EPA violations on record
4%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
167
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Farm Water Works

Farm Water Works is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 167 residents in Sanford, North Carolina (Lee County) through 76 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 822 total violations for this system , of which 32 (4%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 736 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Public Notice, recorded in 25 violations (Other). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 7.7 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%).

Farm Water Works's 822 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

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

Population Served
167
Total Violations
822
Health-Based Violations
32
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
76
County
Lee
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
28
Monitoring Violations
736
Treatment Tech Violations
4

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Public Notice Other 25 2022
Chlorine MR 23 2022
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 23 2023
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 21 2021
Picloram MR 17 2011
2,4-D MR 17 2011
Pentachlorophenol MR 17 2011
Dalapon MR 17 2011
Dinoseb MR 17 2011
2,4,5-TP MR 17 2011
DICHLOROMETHANE MCL 14 2011
1,2-Dichloroethane MCL 14 2011
Nitrate MR 13 2023
Lead and Copper Rule MR 12 2023
Endrin MR 12 2005
BHC-GAMMA MR 12 2005
Methoxychlor MR 12 2005
Toxaphene MR 12 2005
Simazine MR 12 2005
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 12 2005
Carbofuran MR 12 2005
LASSO MR 12 2005
Heptachlor MR 12 2005
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 12 2005
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 12 2005
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 12 2005
Chlordane MR 12 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 12 2005
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 12 2005
Atrazine MR 12 2005

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFHxS 4/19/2023 7.70 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
8:2 FTS 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/19/2023 4.20 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/19/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/19/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/19/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 4/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/19/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 10/2/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 10/2/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 10/2/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 10/2/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 1/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 1/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 1/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 1/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 1/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 1/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 1/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 1/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 1/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 1/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 1/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 1/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 1/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 1/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 1/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 1/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 1/10/2024 <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 Farm Water Works.

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 NC0353127 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 Farm Water Works 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
2023 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 23 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 8000
2023 Nitrate MR 13 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 1040
2023 Lead and Copper Rule MR 12 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 5000
2022 Public Notice Other 25 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 7500
2022 Chlorine MR 23 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 0999
2021 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 21 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 7000
2021 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 7 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 8000
2011 Picloram MR 17 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 2040
2011 2,4-D MR 17 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 2105
2011 Pentachlorophenol MR 17 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 2326
2011 Dalapon MR 17 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 2031
2011 Dinoseb MR 17 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 2041
2011 2,4,5-TP MR 17 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 2110
2011 DICHLOROMETHANE MCL 14 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 2964
2011 1,2-Dichloroethane MCL 14 SDWIS / NC0353127 / 2980

How Farm Water Works Compares

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

Metric Farm Water Works North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 822 104.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 32 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 167 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 Farm Water Works water safe to drink? ▼
Farm Water Works (PWS ID: NC0353127) has 822 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 167 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Farm Water Works serve? ▼
Farm Water Works serves 167 people in Sanford, North Carolina. It is a Private-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 76 service connections.
What type of violations does Farm Water Works have? ▼
Farm Water Works has 822 total violations: 32 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 736 monitoring/reporting violations, and 4 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Farm Water Works water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in Farm Water Works's water supply: PFHxS, PFOS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Farm Water Works use? ▼
Farm Water Works uses Groundwater 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.