Water System Report NC

Carolina Trace Water System

EPA ID: NC0353101 · 4,516 people served · 77 ZIP codes

Unlike many utilities its size, Carolina Trace Water System carries a violation-free five-year record — no EPA notices, no MCL exceedances, serving 4,516 people.

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

4,516
People Served
77
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 4 (2021) to 88 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Carolina Trace Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$82,341
Median Household Income
1,043,053
Service Area Population
30%
Disadvantaged Population
41th
Poverty Percentile
23th
Energy Burden Percentile
42%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Carolina Trace Water System serves a community with a median household income of $82,341 and an estimated 1,043,053 residents across its service area. Approximately 42% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Carolina Trace Water System'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
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
48th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Lee 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

42 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Unknown
Pipe Material
24 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 64% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 171 detections recorded. 7 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: HFPO-DA: 0.01 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in North Carolina

B 0 violations
Ranlo, Town of
4,511 people
0 violations
0 violations
Murphy, Town of
4,498 people
D 6 violations
Louisburg, Town of
4,554 people
C 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $723
Water Filtration $600
PFAS Treatment $494
Radon Mitigation $379
Total Estimated Cost $2,196

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,196 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Carolina Trace Water System (EPA ID: NC0353101) is a community water system in North Carolina that serves approximately 4,516 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 77 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

This system serves 77 ZIP codes:

27330 · 27331 · 27332 · 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 Carolina Trace Water System (NC0353101) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carolina Trace Water System water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Carolina Trace Water System serve?

Carolina Trace Water System serves approximately 4,516 people across 77 ZIP codes in North Carolina.

Where does Carolina Trace Water System get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
116
Detections
26
Latest sample
11/10/2025
Highest analyte
PFOS: 14 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 14 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFPeA 11.5 ppt
PFHxA 10 ppt
PFOA 9.7 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFBA 7.2 ppt
PFBS 5.2 ppt

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:

1
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
662
Unknown Material
1,012
Confirmed Non-Lead

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: 4,516
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?
Carolina Trace Water System meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Carolina Trace Water System serve?
Carolina Trace Water System serves approximately 4,516 people with drinking water across 77 ZIP codes.
What is Carolina Trace Water System's water source?
Carolina Trace Water System draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Carolina Trace Water System's service area?
The Carolina Trace Water System service area has a median household income of $82,341. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Carolina Trace Water System get its water?
Carolina Trace Water System'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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