Water System Report NC

Western Carolina Univ Wtp

EPA ID: NC0150116 · 7,800 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Water monitoring for Western Carolina Univ Wtp: clean, five years, 7,800 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

7,800
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$287K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 6 (2024) to 2 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Western Carolina Univ Wtp Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$46,621
Median Household Income
13,342
Service Area Population
33%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
45%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Western Carolina Univ Wtp serves a community with a median household income of $46,621 and an estimated 13,342 residents across its service area. Approximately 45% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 33% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Western Carolina Univ Wtp's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
0th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Jackson County, North Carolina rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

37 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
34 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 52% of expected lifespan used End of life

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in North Carolina

0 violations
C 3 violations
Canton, Town of
7,850 people
C 5 violations
B 0 violations
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,500
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,200

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

System Overview

Western Carolina Univ Wtp (EPA ID: NC0150116) is a community water system in North Carolina that serves approximately 7,800 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Western Carolina Univ Wtp (NC0150116) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Western Carolina Univ Wtp water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Western Carolina Univ Wtp has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Western Carolina Univ Wtp serve?

Western Carolina Univ Wtp serves approximately 7,800 people across 2 ZIP codes in North Carolina.

Where does Western Carolina Univ Wtp get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
63
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 7,800
Reported to North Carolina

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Western Carolina Univ Wtp meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Western Carolina Univ Wtp serve?
Western Carolina Univ Wtp serves approximately 7,800 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Western Carolina Univ Wtp's water source?
Western Carolina Univ Wtp draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Western Carolina Univ Wtp's service area?
The Western Carolina Univ Wtp service area has a median household income of $46,621. EPA EJScreen data classifies 33% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Western Carolina Univ Wtp get its water?
Western Carolina Univ Wtp's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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