Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority
EPA ID: NC0467035 · 156,755 people served · 17 ZIP codes
Unlike fully compliant utilities, Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority has 3 outstanding EPA violations for approximately 156,755 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 3 (2021) to 28 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority serves a community with a median household income of $66,555 and an estimated 227,052 residents across its service area.
Environmental Justice Note: 49% 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?
Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority'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.
About 1% of homes in Pender 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 Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Atrazine at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.003 mg/L. Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 8 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 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. 8 detections recorded.
Atrazine 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
Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority (EPA ID: NC0467035) is a community water system in North Carolina that serves approximately 156,755 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 17 ZIP codes across 15 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (71/100)
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 10, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 28, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Atrazine | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 11, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 11, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report 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 | 8 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 3 | No |
| Atrazine | Organic | 2 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28540 | 0.006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28541 | 0.006 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 28546 | 0.006 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: 14 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 3 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.
- 28445 — Holly Ridge
- 28454 — Maple Hill
- 28460 — Sneads Ferry
- 28518 — Beulaville
- 28521 — Chinquapin
- 28539 — Hubert
- 28540 — Jacksonville
- 28541 — Jacksonville
- 28543 — Tarawa Terrace
- 28544 — Midway Park
- 28545 — Mccutcheon Field
- 28546 — Jacksonville
- 28547 — Camp Lejeune
- 28555 — Maysville
- 28574 — Richlands
- 28582 — Stella
- 28584 — Swansboro
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority (NC0467035) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority water safe to drink?
Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority has recorded 4 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 Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority serve?
Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority serves approximately 156,755 people across 17 ZIP codes in North Carolina.
Where does Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
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 Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA) 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: Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA) Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
NCDEQ SWAP conducted assessments for ONWASA's drinking water sources. Well 1 rated Lower susceptibility; R2 rated Moderate; Dixon 1 rated Lower; Hubert 1 rated Moderate. Report date September 2020. ONWASA maintains a Wellhead Plan adopted in 2002 to help protect its drinking water source.
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 Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA) 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: 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 →
ONWASA has been working to identify service line materials throughout the water system and prepared an inventory of all service lines. Public inventory available at https://lead-service-line-inventory-onwasa.hub.arcgis.com/. Next lead/copper sampling compliance period is July-Dec 2025.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA)
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
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.
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 Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA) 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.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
monitoring · Total Coliform (routine sample)Date not published
ONWASA failed to collect the required Total Coliform routine sample for the monitoring period beginning February 1, 2024. Corrected on March 11, 2024.
-
monitoring · Disinfectant Residual (routine sample)Date not published
ONWASA failed to collect the required Disinfectant Residual routine sample for the monitoring period beginning February 1, 2024. Corrected on March 11, 2024.
Violations record from Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA) Consumer Confidence Report.
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.
- Fluoride levels in some ONWASA source water wells reached up to 3.5 mg/L (SMCL exceedance), triggering public notice; children under nine advised to use alternative water sources.
- ONWASA is working to identify all service line materials and prepared a public inventory accessible at https://lead-service-line-inventory-onwasa.hub.arcgis.com/.
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.
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
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
Onslow Wtr and Sewer Authority (EPA ID: NC0467035) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.