States ›North Carolina ›Gaston County ›Bessemer City

Bessemer City, NC Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Bessemer City, NC — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Bessemer City's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Bessemer City, City Of PWSID: NC0136025 Updated: 2026 Q2
⚠️

PFAS above the federal limit

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 1.22 times the limit.

C

Bessemer City earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: not detected
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
20 violations since 2015, 8 health-based
No violations currently open
Bessemer City's lead level vs. all North Carolina community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: Not detected — 0% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than % of North Carolina utilities
Population Served
5415
~2484 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
20 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
0% of EPA action level
Not detected
Action level: 15 ppb
Lead was not detected at the 90th percentile — the result fell below the laboratory detection limit. That is not the same as an absence of lead in every tap, and older homes with lead service lines can still show higher readings.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2024 Resolved
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS REPORTING FAILURE — — 2024 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2024 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2024 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL TREATMENT TECHNIQUE 0.99 MG/L TT 2024 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL TREATMENT TECHNIQUE 0.7 RATIO TT 2023 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2023 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL TREATMENT TECHNIQUE 0.67 RATIO TT 2023 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule REPORTING FAILURE — — 2023 Addressed
CARBON, TOTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2023 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL TREATMENT TECHNIQUE 0.86 RATIO TT 2023 Resolved
Public Notice OTHER — — 2023 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2023 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2023 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL TREATMENT TECHNIQUE 0.99 RATIO TT 2023 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2022 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL TREATMENT TECHNIQUE 0.93 RATIO TT 2022 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.086 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Public Notice OTHER — — 2015 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

20 violations are on record since 2015, of which 8 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Bessemer City, City Of
PWSID NC0136025
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 5,415
Service connections 2,484
Systems serving this area 3
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bessemer City tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points. No violations are currently open.
Does Bessemer City water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 1.22 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Bessemer City? ▼
Bessemer City, City Of (PWSID NC0136025), one of 3 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2026-06-11. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Bessemer City Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

Nearby Cities in North Carolina

Gastonia, Nc Tap Water Quality 2026 Gaston Mount Holly, Nc Tap Water Quality 2026 Gaston Belmont, Nc Tap Water Quality 2026 Gaston Cherryville, Nc Tap Water Quality 2026 Gaston Dallas, Nc Tap Water Quality 2026 Gaston Ranlo, Nc Tap Water Quality 2026 Gaston