States › North Carolina › Richmond County

Richmond County, NC Water Quality

Water quality data for 4 public water systems serving Richmond County, North Carolina — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 4 water systems · 9 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

Richmond County Earns a B

Richmond County: 9 communities across 4 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 37.00 ppb
  • 1 communities with a lead detection, 8 reporting none detected
  • 2 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 0 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
37 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
4
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
  • Rockingham
    Not detected
    2 health-based violations since 2015
    A
  • Cordova
    Not detected
    5 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • East Rockingham
    Not detected
    5 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Hoffman
    Not detected
    5 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Roberdel
    Not detected
    5 health-based violations since 2015
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Ellerbe
    37.00 ppb
    Lead above the 15 ppb action level
    D
  • Hamlet
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
    C
  • Dobbins Heights
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
    C
  • Cordova
    Not detected
    5 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • East Rockingham
    Not detected
    5 health-based violations since 2015
    B
County Lead Level — Median 37 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 37 ppb — 246.7% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
10 – 15 ppb
1
No Data
8

All Cities in Richmond County

Rockingham Not detected A
Hamlet Not detected C
Cordova Not detected B
East Rockingham Not detected B
Ellerbe 37.00 ppb D
Dobbins Heights Not detected C
Hoffman Not detected B
Roberdel Not detected B
Norman Not detected B
Showing 9 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Richmond County Drinking Water

Richmond County is served by 4 water systems covering 9 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 1 recorded a detection, with a median of 37.00 ppb — 247% of the federal action level. 8 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

2 of 9 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded no significant deficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Richmond County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Richmond County has an open violation on record. 2 of 9 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Richmond County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 37.00 ppb, 247% of the 15 ppb action level. 8 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Richmond County?▼
4 community water systems serve 9 communities here.
← Back to North Carolina water quality overview