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. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 167 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does Farm Water Works serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Farm Water Works serves 167 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Sanford or any other city). It is a Private-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 76 service connections. The operator address is listed in Sanford, North Carolina.

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.

How does Farm Water Works's violation count compare nationally?

Farm Water Works has 822 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 2% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 98% of that cohort has fewer violations than Farm Water Works. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → North Carolina

Community Water System · PWS NC0353127

Farm Water Works

Operator location Sanford, North Carolina - UCMR5 detected 2 PFAS compounds (lower-third PFAS panel (≤ 2 compounds)) on this PWS; SDWIS lists 822 violations and 167 people served.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

167
People served (this PWS) Smaller third of systems: 822
EPA violations (this PWS) Upper third of systems: 32
Health-based (this PWS) Middle third by health-based share: 2 PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Lower third of PFAS-detected systems

Follow published updates (RSS)

Farm Water Works standing, high SDWIS violation third

UCMR5 detected 2 PFAS compounds - lower-third PFAS panel (≤ 2 compounds). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 4% is middle-third health share (≤ 23%). UCMR5: lower-third PFAS panel (≤ 2 compounds).

The verdict

Farm Water Works sits in the upper third of the sitemap cohort by violation count (822), so the tables below sample a dense compliance trail rather than a near-clean ledger. Population served is smaller (167; smaller served population (≤ 999)), so each violation row represents a compact service footprint. Health-based share is 4% (middle-third health share (≤ 23%)). UCMR5 detected 2 PFAS compounds (lower-third PFAS panel (≤ 2 compounds)).

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

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

PFAS Detected

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

Water Safety Score

18/100

Farm Water Works

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations F

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations F

790

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination C-

0.0077 µg/L

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

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

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Farm Water Works has 822 recorded EPA violations, 98% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 2% carry more. 4% of this system's own violations are health-based (32 of 822), and it ranks unranked by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

822 Higher than most more violations than 98% of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

Farm Water Works plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is Farm Water Works. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
Farm Water Works: 822 violations, 4% health-based (this system)
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

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

UCMR5 PFAS record for Farm Water Works

Open EPA SDWIS federal reports for PWS NC0353127 to cross-check UCMR5 detections and violation codes; state primacy agencies enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act locally.

EPA SDWIS · PWS NC0353127 NC primacy agency

Sources: EPA SDWIS · North Carolina DEQ, Public Water Supply Section

Nationwide peers

822 violations · 167 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems with comparable violation load

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

What to do with Farm Water Works

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in North Carolina compares on the same EPA violation measures. North Carolina systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.