Bryson City, Town of
EPA ID: NC0187010 · 4,395 people served · 1 ZIP code
Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, Bryson City, Town of shows 4 active EPA violations in the federal database for a service population of approximately 4,395.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Bryson City, Town of Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Bryson City, Town of serves a community with a median household income of $56,368 and an estimated 8,441 residents across its service area. Approximately 49% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 100% 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?
Bryson City, Town of'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 2% of homes in Swain 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 Bryson City, Town of compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
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
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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
Bryson City, Town of (EPA ID: NC0187010) is a community water system in North Carolina that serves approximately 4,395 people from surface water sources.
This system serves ZIP code 28713 in Bryson City.
Average Home Safety Score: C (65/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| May 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 30, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | 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 | 4 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 4 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28713 | 0.0043 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
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: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by NC or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
- 28713 — Bryson City
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Bryson City, Town of (NC0187010) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bryson City, Town of water safe to drink?
Bryson City, Town of has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Bryson City, Town of serve?
Bryson City, Town of serves approximately 4,395 people across 1 ZIP code in North Carolina.
Where does Bryson City, Town of 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.
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:
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.
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.
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
Bryson City, Town of (EPA ID: NC0187010) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.