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Pender County, NC Water Quality

Water quality data for 6 public water systems serving Pender County, North Carolina — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 6 water systems · 7 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Pender County Earns a B

Pender County: 7 communities across 6 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 5.50 ppb
  • 1 communities with a lead detection, 6 reporting none detected
  • 0 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 0 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
5.5 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
6
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Burgaw
    Not detected
    1 health-based violation since 2015
    A
  • Atkinson
    5.50 ppb
    Lead at 5.50 ppb, above a third of the action level
    B
  • Rocky Point
    Not detected
    17 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Hampstead
    Not detected
    5 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • St. Helena
    Not detected
    17 health-based violations since 2015
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Topsail Beach
    Not detected
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    C
  • Surf City
    Not detected
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    B
  • Rocky Point
    Not detected
    17 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Hampstead
    Not detected
    5 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • St. Helena
    Not detected
    17 health-based violations since 2015
    B
County Lead Level — Median 5.5 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 5.5 ppb — 36.7% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
5 – 10 ppb
1
No Data
6

All Cities in Pender County

Burgaw Not detected A
Rocky Point Not detected B
Surf City Not detected B
Hampstead Not detected B
Topsail Beach Not detected C
St. Helena Not detected B
Atkinson 5.50 ppb B
Showing 7 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Pender County Drinking Water

Pender County is served by 6 water systems covering 7 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 1 recorded a detection, with a median of 5.50 ppb — 37% of the federal action level. 6 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

No community here has PFAS above the federal limit on record. State inspectors recorded no significant deficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pender County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Pender County has an open violation on record. No community has PFAS above the federal limit on record.
What is the lead level in Pender County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 5.50 ppb, 37% of the 15 ppb action level. 6 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Pender County?▼
6 community water systems serve 7 communities here.
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