Charlotte Water
EPA ID: NC0160010 · 1,163,701 people served · 84 ZIP codes
With 6 unresolved EPA violations, Charlotte Water is currently out of full compliance — approximately 1,163,701 people in its service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 4 (2021) to 1 (2025). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Charlotte Water Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Charlotte Water serves a community with a median household income of $94,145 and an estimated 1,226,049 residents across its service area.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Charlotte Water'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.
About 1% of homes in Mecklenburg 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
Detected Contaminants
How Charlotte Water compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 13 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 180 detections recorded. 7 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in North Carolina
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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
CHARLOTTE WATER (EPA ID: NC0160010) is a community water system in North Carolina that serves approximately 1,163,701 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 84 ZIP codes across 9 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (80/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 13 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 5 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | Yes |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 4 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 4 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) (EPA limit: 0.08 mg/L)
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns At-risk groups: pregnant women, long-term consumers of chlorinated water, people who frequently shower in chlorinated water.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, point-of-entry aeration. Find the right filter →
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28201 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28202 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28203 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28204 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28205 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28206 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28207 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28208 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28209 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28210 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28211 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28212 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28213 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28214 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28215 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28216 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28217 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28218 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28219 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28220 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 32 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 52 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 84 ZIP codes:
28031 · 28036 · 28078 · 28079 · 28104 28105 · 28106 · 28126 · 28130 · 28134 28201 · 28202 · 28203 · 28204 · 28205 28206 · 28207 · 28208 · 28209 · 28210 28211 · 28212 · 28213 · 28214 · 28215 28216 · 28217 · 28218 · 28219 · 28220 28221 · 28222 · 28223 · 28224 · 28226 28227 · 28228 · 28229 · 28230 · 28231 28232 · 28233 · 28234 · 28235 · 28236 28237 · 28241 · 28242 · 28243 · 28244 28246 · 28247 · 28250 · 28253 · 28254 28255 · 28256 · 28258 · 28260 · 28262 28263 · 28265 · 28266 · 28269 · 28270 28271 · 28272 · 28273 · 28274 · 28275 28277 · 28278 · 28280 · 28281 · 28282 28284 · 28285 · 28287 · 28288 · 28289 28290 · 28296 · 28297 · 28299
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Charlotte Water (NC0160010) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charlotte Water water safe to drink?
Charlotte Water has recorded 12 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Charlotte Water serve?
Charlotte Water serves approximately 1,163,701 people across 84 ZIP codes in North Carolina.
Where does Charlotte Water get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from Charlotte Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: Charlotte Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Watershed exposure sources reported
Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Charlotte Water Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
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 →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
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.
Aesthetic water quality
These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.
Aesthetic measurements from Charlotte Water Consumer Confidence Report.
Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- Zero Cryptosporidium and Giardia detects in 2024 quarterly monitoring
- Zero drinking water violations received during 2024
- Charlotte Water operates three treatment plants (Franklin, Dukes, Vest) treating an average of 117 million gallons per day
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Charlotte Water (EPA ID: NC0160010) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.