What was found in Monroe's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 1820 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: MONROE, CITY OF · 43,081 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 881 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: MONROE, CITY OF · 43,081 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 256.9 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 357.5 µg/L — MONROE, CITY OF · 43,081 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 73.1 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 79.47 µg/L — MONROE, CITY OF · 43,081 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 66.8 µg/L 111% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 65.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 46.87 µg/L 312% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 35.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 31 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 22.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 10.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18 µg/L — MONROE, CITY OF · 43,081 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 8.96 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 7.73 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.41 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.09 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.8000 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: MONROE, CITY OF · 43,081 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Simazine | 0.6276 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Highest in the city: MONROE, CITY OF · 43,081 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0100 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0074 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0065 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0069 µg/L — MONROE, CITY OF · 43,081 people · 2024 | 2/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MONROE, CITY OF · 43,081 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0049 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 169,685 people · 2025 | 2/2 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Monroe
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| UNION COUNTY WATER SYSTEM | 169,685 |
| MONROE, CITY OF | 43,081 |
Frequently asked questions about Monroe tap water
Is Monroe tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Monroe. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Monroe?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Monroe, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Monroe's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Monroe include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.