Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
ROBESON COUNTY WATER SYSTEM
ROBESON COUNTY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded D (56/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 67,970 residents in MAXTON, North Carolina using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 910-671-3485.
Is MAXTON tap water safe to drink?
ROBESON COUNTY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (56/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 67,970 residents in MAXTON, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dibromochloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chlorate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for MAXTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ROBESON COUNTY WATER SYSTEM.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.668 ppt, 668x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 7.2 ppb, 120x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 13.1 ppb, 87x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact ROBESON COUNTY WATER SYSTEM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for MAXTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 56/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.668 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 668× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
7.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 120× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
13.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 87× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 65× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
4.97 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 50× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.56 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 40× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.7 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 34× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.03 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.8 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.77 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.0 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.167 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.6× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.468 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
210.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.4 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.00836 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.364 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) Other |
2.79 ppt | 9.0 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0289 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
5.2 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
0.48 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.32 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.00862 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.72 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.0346 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.55 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.21 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.732 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Xylenes (total) Volatile organic compound |
0.23 ppb | 1800.0 | 10000.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0301 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1-Butanol Other |
0.255 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.438 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
0.5 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
ROBESON COUNTY WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Robeson County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for MAXTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.