Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in MONROE, North Carolina

Served by UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM. 167,554 residents.

Average score 55/100
Utilities 1
Population 167,554
Quick answer

Tap water in MONROE, North Carolina receives a grade of F (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?

What's in MONROE's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving MONROE.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 29.4 ppb, 490x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 21.2 ppb, 212x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 25.3 ppb, 169x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Recommended filters for MONROE

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in MONROE's water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.

All contaminants detected in MONROE's tap water

Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →

Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
29.4 ppb 0.06 490× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
21.2 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 212× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
25.3 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 169× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
5.5 ppb 0.06 92× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
8.52 ppb 0.1 85× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
11.8 ppb 0.2 59× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
18.4 ppb 0.4 46× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
1.23 ppb 0.1 12× over
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFAS
0.525 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 5.8× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.107 ppb 0.02 5.3× over
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
1.13 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 3.8× over
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.0813 ppb 0.03 2.7× over
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
240.4 ppb 210.0 1.1× over
1,4-Dioxane
Semi-volatile organic compound
0.209 ppb 0.35 50 1 Below guideline
Bromoform
Disinfection byproduct
0.143 ppb 0.5 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
4.15 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
0.728 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.77 ppb 53.0 Below guideline
Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)
PFAS
4.89 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
PFAS
4.33 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)
PFAS
1.5 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.0552 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline

All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.

Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.

Treatment plant contact info

For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM.

Treatment Plant

FacilityTREATMENT_PLT_YADKIN WTP

ZIP codes served

MONROE's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: