Water Quality: Hickory, NC
5 water systems • 95,049 people served
Some ConcernsWater Quality Summary
Hickory is served by 5 public water systems with a combined service population of 95,049 people, and has 17 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 2 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Hickory's violation count is 86% below the national average for North Carolina. Contaminants associated with violations include Disinfection Byproducts, TTHM.
Contaminants Found
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
Total trihalomethanes are linked to increased risk of bladder cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes.
Common source: Reaction of chlorine disinfectants with naturally occurring organic matter in water
EPA limit: 0.080 mg/L (80 ppb)
Water Systems Serving Hickory
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HICKORY CITY OF | NC0118010 | Surface Water | 75,654 | 0 |
| ALEXANDER CO WTR DIST | NC0102020 | Surface Water | 13,064 | 5 |
| SOUTHEAST CATAWBA COUNTY | NC2018004 | Surface Water | 5,080 | 5 |
| CATAWBA, TOWN OF | NC0118040 | Surface Water | 1,181 | 3 |
| KOOL PARK MHP | NC0118108 | Groundwater | 70 | 4 |
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
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.