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MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF

PWS ID: NC0416015 · MOREHEAD CITY, North Carolina 28557

MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF serves 9,420 people in MOREHEAD CITY, North Carolina using Groundwater water sources. It has 119 recorded EPA violations, including 5 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.

Water Quality Snapshot: MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF

MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 9,420 residents in MOREHEAD CITY, North Carolina (Carteret County) through 6,507 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 119 total violations for this system , of which 5 (4%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 109 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 Nitrate, recorded in 39 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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. MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF's 119 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.

Population Served
9,420
Total Violations
119
Health-Based Violations
5
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
6,507
County
Carteret
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
3
Monitoring Violations
109
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Nitrate MR 39 2025
Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 2024
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2002
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 3 2002
Xylenes, Total MR 3 2002
Ethylbenzene MR 3 2002
Toluene MR 3 2002
CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 2002
Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 2002
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 2002
Trichloroethylene MR 3 2002
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 3 2002
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2002
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 3 2002
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2002
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 2002
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 2002
Vinyl chloride MR 3 2002
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2002
Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 2002
Styrene MR 3 2002
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 2002
Benzene MR 3 2002
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 2018
Fluoride MCL 3 1999
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. 0 of 180 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFTA 9/23/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/23/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 9/23/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/23/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 9/23/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 9/23/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 9/23/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 9/23/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/23/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 9/23/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 9/23/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 9/23/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 9/23/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 9/23/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 9/23/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 9/23/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/23/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/23/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/23/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 9/23/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 9/23/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 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 MOREHEAD CITY, 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 NC0416015 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 MOREHEAD CITY, 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
2025 Nitrate MR 39 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 1040
2024 Lead and Copper Rule MR 6 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 5000
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TT 2 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 5200
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 2 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 5200
2018 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 7000
2008 Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule MR 1 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 0600
2002 1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 2977
2002 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 2964
2002 Xylenes, Total MR 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 2955
2002 Ethylbenzene MR 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 2992
2002 Toluene MR 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 2991
2002 CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 2989
2002 Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 2987
2002 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 2985
2002 Trichloroethylene MR 3 SDWIS / NC0416015 / 2984

How MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF Compares

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

Metric MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 119 104.4 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 5 7.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 60.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 9,420 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 MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF water safe to drink? ▼
MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF (PWS ID: NC0416015) has 119 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 9,420 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF serve? ▼
MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF serves 9,420 people in MOREHEAD CITY, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 6,507 service connections.
What type of violations does MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF have? ▼
MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF has 119 total violations: 5 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 109 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF water? ▼
No. MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF use? ▼
MOREHEAD CITY, TOWN OF 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.

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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.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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