Health Violations Found NC 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Chowan Company Water System

EPA ID: NC0421015 · 11,722 people served · 5 ZIP codes

The five-year EPA compliance file for Chowan Company Water System contains 4 violations, each documented and subsequently closed — the utility now operates in full compliance and continues to supply approximately 11,722 residents with water meeting current federal standards, including both health-based and monitoring requirements.

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

B · 78
Avg Safety Score
11,722
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
4
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.005 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
1
Contaminants Flagged
$195K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Chowan Company Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$59,070
Median Household Income
17,344
Service Area Population
53%
Disadvantaged Population
68th
Poverty Percentile
82th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Chowan Company Water System serves a community with a median household income of $59,070 and an estimated 17,344 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 53% 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?

Groundwater

Chowan Company Water System's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
24th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
12th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 0% of homes in Perquimans 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

48 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
21 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 70% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Chowan Company Water System compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in North Carolina

Spring Lake, Town of
11,725 people
B 6 violations
Flowers Plantation
11,643 people
0 violations
B 8 violations
The Cape Master System
11,587 people
0 violations
A 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,560
Water Filtration $60
Total Estimated Cost $1,620

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,620 (one-time) vs. $5,000 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

Chowan Company Water System (EPA ID: NC0421015) is a community water system in North Carolina that serves approximately 11,722 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (78/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

2 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. All violations have been resolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 4 Yes

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
27932 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 Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 4 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Chowan Company Water System (NC0421015) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chowan Company Water System water safe to drink?

Chowan Company Water System has recorded 2 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 Chowan Company Water System serve?

Chowan Company Water System serves approximately 11,722 people across 5 ZIP codes in North Carolina.

Where does Chowan Company Water System get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
58

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
4,711
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.
Reporting compliance issue flagged by EPA under Rule 2E.
Compliance issue flagged by EPA under Rule 4G.
Population served: 11,722
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

Is water from Chowan Company Water System safe to drink?
Chowan Company Water System earns a B safety grade with 4 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Chowan Company Water System's water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 2 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Chowan Company Water System serve?
Chowan Company Water System serves approximately 11,722 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Chowan Company Water System's water source?
Chowan Company Water System draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Chowan Company Water System's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.005 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Chowan Company Water System's service area?
The Chowan Company Water System service area has a median household income of $59,070. EPA EJScreen data classifies 53% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Chowan Company Water System get its water?
Chowan Company Water System's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Chowan Company Water System (EPA ID: NC0421015) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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