Health Violations Found NC 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Duplin County Water System

EPA ID: NC0431085 · 18,542 people served · 17 ZIP codes

In the most recent EPA reporting cycle, Duplin County Water System carried 2 violations still marked as unresolved — each remains active in the federal enforcement ledger while the utility continues operations for its service population of approximately 18,542 people across the area it supplies.

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

B · 82
Avg Safety Score
18,542
People Served
17
ZIP Codes Served
6
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.005358 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
6
Contaminants Flagged
$112K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 3 (2023) to 6 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Duplin County Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$53,611
Median Household Income
80,611
Service Area Population
68%
Disadvantaged Population
75th
Poverty Percentile
83th
Energy Burden Percentile
51%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Duplin County Water System serves a community with a median household income of $53,611 and an estimated 80,611 residents across its service area. Approximately 51% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 68% 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

Duplin County 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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
22th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
21th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Duplin 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

41 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
29 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 59% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Duplin County Water System compares to EPA limits

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

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.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

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

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Revised Total Coliform Rule at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 27 detections recorded. 7 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds state limits.

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 →

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

A 2 violations
City of Newton
18,407 people
B 16 violations
City of Albemarle
18,396 people
A 17 violations
City of Graham
18,354 people
B 19 violations
City of Laurinburg,
18,288 people
A 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Lead Pipe Replacement Water Filtration Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,713
PFAS Treatment $213
Lead Pipe Replacement $195
Water Filtration $113
Radon Mitigation $25
Total Estimated Cost $2,258

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 $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,258 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

Duplin County Water System (EPA ID: NC0431085) is a community water system in North Carolina that serves approximately 18,542 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 17 ZIP codes across 17 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (82/100)

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

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 2 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
June 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
June 1, 2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Unresolved
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
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 Yes
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 2 No
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 2 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Surface Water Treatment 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
28349 0.005358 mg/L No N/A
28478 0.002 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: 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Duplin County Water System (NC0431085) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Duplin County Water System water safe to drink?

Duplin County Water System has recorded 1 health-based violation 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 Duplin County Water System serve?

Duplin County Water System serves approximately 18,542 people across 17 ZIP codes in North Carolina.

Where does Duplin County 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
754

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
10,090
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: 18,542
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 →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Duplin County Water System safe to drink?
Duplin County Water System earns a B safety grade with 6 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Duplin County Water System's water?
Detected contaminants include Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Stage 1 DBP Rule, Stage 2 DBP Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants 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 Duplin County Water System serve?
Duplin County Water System serves approximately 18,542 people with drinking water across 17 ZIP codes.
What is Duplin County Water System's water source?
Duplin County Water System draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Duplin County Water System's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.005358 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Duplin County Water System's service area?
The Duplin County Water System service area has a median household income of $53,611. EPA EJScreen data classifies 68% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Duplin County Water System get its water?
Duplin County 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 violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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

Duplin County Water System (EPA ID: NC0431085) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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