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Cherokee, NC Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Cherokee Water System PWSID: 043740039 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

B

Cherokee earns a B for water quality

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

Lead: not detected
PFAS tested, none detected
5 violations since 2015, 5 health-based
No violations currently open
Cherokee'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
1560
~2637 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
5 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
Carbon tetrachloride MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.0247 MG/L 0.005 mg/L 2023 Archived
Vinyl chloride MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.232 MG/L 0.002 mg/L 2023 Archived
Trichloroethylene MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.0248 MG/L 0.005 mg/L 2023 Archived
Tetrachloroethylene MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.0243 MG/L 0.005 mg/L 2023 Archived
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

5 violations are on record since 2015, of which 5 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Cherokee Water System
PWSID 043740039
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 1,560
Service connections 2,637
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator US EPA (tribal primacy)
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cherokee tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open.
Does Cherokee water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Cherokee? ▼
Cherokee Water System (PWSID 043740039). Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-05-08. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Cherokee Residents Do?

1
Read your annual water report
Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.
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.

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