Water Quality: Asheville, NC

17 water systems • 171,908 people served

Multiple Health Violations
516
Total Violations
27
Health-Based Violations
17
Water Systems
171,908
Population Served

Water Quality Summary

Asheville is served by 17 public water systems with a combined service population of 171,908 people, and has 516 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 27 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Asheville's violation count is 325% above the national average for North Carolina. Contaminants associated with violations include Bromate, Disinfection Byproducts, Stage 2 DBP, Total Coliform (TCR), Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).

Contaminants Found

Bromate

Probable human carcinogen that increases the risk of kidney and thyroid cancers.

Common source: Ozonation of bromide-containing water; used as flour improver

EPA limit: 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb)

Disinfection Byproducts

Broad category of chemicals formed during disinfection, associated with increased cancer risk and adverse reproductive effects.

Common source: Reaction of disinfectants (chlorine, ozone, chloramines) with organic matter

Stage 2 DBP

Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids that increase cancer risk and may cause adverse reproductive outcomes.

Common source: Chlorine disinfection reacting with natural organic matter in source water

EPA limit: TTHM: 0.080 mg/L; HAA5: 0.060 mg/L

Total Coliform (TCR)

Indicates possible presence of disease-causing organisms that can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Common source: Human and animal fecal waste, soil, vegetation

EPA limit: No more than 5% of monthly samples may be positive

Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

Haloacetic acids are associated with increased cancer risk and potential reproductive and developmental effects.

Common source: Reaction of chlorine disinfectants with organic matter in treated water

EPA limit: 0.060 mg/L (60 ppb)

Water Systems Serving Asheville

System Name PWSID Source Population Violations
ASHEVILLE CITY OF NC0111010 Surface Water 157,431 12
WOODFIN SANITARY WATER AND SEWER NC0111015 Surface Water 10,122 11
BILTMORE FOREST, TOWN OF NC0111030 Surface Water 1,356 7
TRILLIUM LINKS & VILLAGE NC0150193 Groundwater 610 34
NORTHVIEW MHP NC0111151 Groundwater 516 64
TRILLIUM LINKS WEST NC1050042 Groundwater 424 10
BEAR LAKE RESERVE 1B NC1050057 Groundwater 396 9
BIG SHEEP CLIFF NC0150169 Groundwater 175 126
COUNTRY PLACE S/D NC0111157 Groundwater 160 10
JOHNSON-SILER MHP NC0111171 Surface Water 150 33
BEAR LAKE RESERVE GOLDEN FARMS NC1050034 Groundwater 117 20
HAZELWOOD HOMEOWNERS ASSOC NC0111150 Surface Water 100 29
WEDGEFIELD ACRES MHP NC0111152 Groundwater 100 8
JEWEL ACRES WATER SERVICE NC0111130 Groundwater 90 20
LAURELWOOD MHP NC0111154 Groundwater 60 3
TIMBER RIDGE NC1050069 Groundwater 51 38
UNDER THE BLUE RIDGE NC0111147 Groundwater 50 82

Concerned About Your Water?

A home water filter can remove common contaminants. NSF-certified filters are tested against EPA standards.

Consider a reverse osmosis system for comprehensive filtration or a carbon filter for basic improvement.

Other Cities in North Carolina

Charlotte 1202 violations • 1,253,056 served Raleigh 887 violations • 647,319 served Cary 3297 violations • 439,492 served Pfafftown 11 violations • 388,060 served Durham 1147 violations • 323,806 served Greensboro 241 violations • 321,041 served Fayetteville 47 violations • 215,789 served Jacksonville 894 violations • 215,628 served

View all cities in North Carolina →

Data Sources

Drinking water violation data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Data includes all recorded violations for active community water systems.

Verify at epa.gov • Search ECHO for NC