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Community Water System · PWS NC0362010

Montgomery County Water System

Mt Gilead, North Carolina 27306 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 14,710 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

14,710
People served
235
EPA violations
74
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 235 drinking-water violations at Montgomery County Water System, 31% of them health-based - above the North Carolina per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

235
Total EPA violations on record
31%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
14,710
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Montgomery County Water System

Montgomery County Water System is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 14,710 residents in Mt Gilead, North Carolina (Montgomery County) through 5,884 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 235 total violations for this system , of which 74 (31%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 121 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 26 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 4.4 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%).

Montgomery County Water System's 235 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
14,710
Total Violations
235
Health-Based Violations
74
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
5,884
County
Montgomery
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
46
Monitoring Violations
121
Treatment Tech Violations
28

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 26 2025
TTHM MCL 20 2025
CARBON, TOTAL TT 15 2022
Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 14 2025
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 13 2019
Arsenic MR 13 1986
Endrin MR 12 1987
Public Notice Other 12 2025
CARBON, TOTAL MR 8 2025
BHC-GAMMA MR 7 1987
2,4,5-TP MR 7 1987
2,4-D MR 7 1987
Toxaphene MR 7 1987
Methoxychlor MR 7 1987
Atrazine MR 6 2019
Mercury MR 5 1986
Barium MR 5 1986
Cadmium MR 5 1986
Chlorine MR 5 2018
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 5 2018
Selenium MR 4 1986
Nitrate MR 4 1986
Fluoride MR 4 1986
Chromium MR 4 1986
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 2024
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 2 2025

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/21/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/21/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/21/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/21/2024 3.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 8/21/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/21/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/21/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/21/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/21/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/21/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/21/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/21/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/21/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/21/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/21/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/21/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/21/2024 4.40 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOA 8/21/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/21/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/20/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/20/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/20/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/20/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 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 Montgomery County Water System.

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 NC0362010 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 Montgomery County Water System 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
2025 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 26 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 2456
2025 TTHM MCL 20 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 2950
2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 14 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 8000
2025 Public Notice Other 12 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 7500
2025 CARBON, TOTAL MR 8 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 2920
2025 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 2 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 2456
2024 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 5000
2022 CARBON, TOTAL TT 15 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 2920
2019 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 13 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 0300
2019 Atrazine MR 6 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 2050
2018 Chlorine MR 5 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 0999
2018 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 5 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 8000
1987 Endrin MR 12 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 2005
1987 BHC-GAMMA MR 7 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 2010
1987 2,4,5-TP MR 7 SDWIS / NC0362010 / 2110

How Montgomery County Water System Compares

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

Metric Montgomery County Water System North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 235 104.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 74 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 14,710 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 Montgomery County Water System water safe to drink?
Montgomery County Water System (PWS ID: NC0362010) has 235 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 14,710 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Montgomery County Water System serve?
Montgomery County Water System serves 14,710 people in Mt Gilead, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 5,884 service connections.
What type of violations does Montgomery County Water System have?
Montgomery County Water System has 235 total violations: 74 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 121 monitoring/reporting violations, and 28 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Montgomery County Water System water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in Montgomery County Water System's water supply: PFHxA, PFOS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Montgomery County Water System use?
Montgomery County Water System 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.