We read 16 results from Brunswick County Water System’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 142,227 people · Water system ID NC0410045 · Read the district’s 2024 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2024 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloriteaverage · range 0.31 to 0.55 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 14 | 0.51 ppm | 0.05 ppm | 1 ppm | Above the health goal10x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · Entry points (weekly samples) · 2024 report, page 17 | 4.94 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.2x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · range 3.7 to 16.4 · Entry points (weekly samples) · 2024 report, page 17 | 9.7 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20292.4x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Chloraminehighest running annual average · range 0.03 to 3.29 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 14 | 2.21 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range ND to 3.43 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 14 | 2.24 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 13 | 0.19 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 25 to 34 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 13 | 34 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 23 to 50 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 13 | 50 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridesingle sample · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2024 report, page 14 | 0.63 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| GenX (HFPO-DA, a PFAS)average · Entry points (weekly samples) · 2024 report, page 18 | 2.88 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 1 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 13 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)single sample · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2024 report, page 14 | 1.6 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)average · Entry points (weekly samples) · 2024 report, page 17 | 3.23 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · listed as a violation in the report · Treatment plants · 2024 report, page 15 | 0.21 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| 1,4-Dioxaneaverage · range 0.12 to 8.39 · Entry points · 2024 report, page 16 | 0.69 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · Entry points (weekly samples) · 2024 report, page 17 | 3.72 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Brunswick County Water System’s water between Jan 2023 and Oct 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA7.7 pptFound in 3 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS12.4 pptFound in 4 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS5.2 pptFound in 3 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- HFPO-DA (GenX)5.8 pptFound in 1 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS7.1 pptFound in 3 of 6 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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