Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM
UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded D (64/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 167,554 residents in MONROE, North Carolina using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 704-296-4215.
Is MONROE tap water safe to drink?
UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (64/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 167,554 residents in MONROE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Dibromoacetic acid, 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM (system ID NC0190413) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 07/01/2024 | Resolved |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for MONROE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane 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 concernHaloacetic 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 concernHaloacetic 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 concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 25.3 ppb, 169x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact UNION 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 MONROE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 64/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Union County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for MONROE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.