PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS NC0469025

Pamlico County Water

Bayboro, North Carolina 28515-0158 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 19,665 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

19,665
People served
153
EPA violations
66
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 153 drinking-water violations at Pamlico County Water, 43% of them health-based - above the North Carolina per-system average.

153
Total EPA violations on record
43%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
19,665
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Pamlico County Water

Pamlico County Water is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 19,665 residents in Bayboro, North Carolina (Pamlico County) through 7,742 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 153 total violations for this system , of which 66 (43%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 55 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 53 violations (MCL, health-based). 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. Statewide, 174 of 287 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (60.6%).

Pamlico County Water's 153 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.

Population Served
19,665
Total Violations
153
Health-Based Violations
66
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
7,742
County
Pamlico
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
57
Monitoring Violations
55
Treatment Tech Violations
9

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 53 2006
Public Notice Other 21 2008
TTHM MR 20 2021
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 16 2021
Lead and Copper Rule TT 7 1993
E. COLI MR 4 2023
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 1998
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 1992
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 2001
Dalapon MR 3 2006
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 2002
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TT 2 2024
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 2 2024
Gross Beta Particle Activity MR 2 1980
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 1 1980
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 1 1980

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 228 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/28/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/28/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/28/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/28/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/28/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/28/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/28/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/28/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/28/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/28/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/28/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/28/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/28/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/28/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/28/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/28/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/28/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/28/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/28/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/28/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/28/2023 <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 Pamlico County Water.

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 NC0469025 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 Pamlico County Water 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 TT 2 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 5200
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 2 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 5200
2023 E. COLI MR 4 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 3014
2021 TTHM MR 20 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 2950
2021 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 16 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 2456
2008 Public Notice Other 21 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 7500
2006 TTHM MCL 53 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 2950
2006 Dalapon MR 3 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 2031
2002 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 7000
2001 Coliform (TCR) MR 4 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 3100
1998 Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 3100
1993 Lead and Copper Rule TT 7 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 5000
1992 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 5000
1980 Gross Beta Particle Activity MR 2 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 4100
1980 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 1 SDWIS / NC0469025 / 4000

How Pamlico County Water Compares

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

Metric Pamlico County Water North Carolina avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 153 104.4 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 66 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 19,665 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 Pamlico County Water water safe to drink?
Pamlico County Water (PWS ID: NC0469025) has 153 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 19,665 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Pamlico County Water serve?
Pamlico County Water serves 19,665 people in Bayboro, North Carolina. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 7,742 service connections.
What type of violations does Pamlico County Water have?
Pamlico County Water has 153 total violations: 66 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 55 monitoring/reporting violations, and 9 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Pamlico County Water water?
No. Pamlico County Water was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Pamlico County Water use?
Pamlico County Water 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.
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.