MyTapWater.us

PWSID NC0368010

ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY

Community water system serving CARRBORO, NC

See also: all utilities in Carrboro · utilities by ZIP 27510

Population served
87k
Source
Surface water
Status
Active

Current water quality

Concern: current measurement or unresolved violation crosses a regulatory limit

PFOA measured at 4.6 ng/L via UCMR 5 sampling (concern).

Risk classification follows EPA published MCL / MCLG / HAL values with caution and concern bands reviewed by a clinician. Past resolved violations do not influence this badge. See methodology.

Lead service line inventory

Lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines confirmed in this system

OWASA's inventory, completed in summer 2024, found no lead service lines and identified 92 galvanized service lines requiring replacement. The inventory shows no unknown service line materials, achieved with 99 percent accuracy via combined inspections, historical records, and statistical modeling. OWASA received a $3.25 million state grant to replace the galvanized lines.

  • 0 confirmed lead service lines
  • 92 galvanized requiring replacement (LCRI treats these as lead)
  • 0 unknown

Note: One of the cleanest, most fully-published inventories in NC.

What to do if your service line might be lead
  1. Ask your utility to check the service-line classification for your specific address. Many utilities provide a public address-lookup tool linked from the inventory page.
  2. Get on the replacement queue. Under the LCRI, utilities must replace all lead and galvanized-requiring- replacement lines within 10 years (clock generally starts November 2027). Some prioritize requests.
  3. Until the line is replaced: flush the tap 30 seconds after long stagnation, use cold water for drinking and cooking, and consider an NSF/ANSI 53 lead-rated tap filter.
  4. Talk to your clinician about a blood lead test for anyone in the home, especially a pregnant person or a child under 6. Lead in drinking water guide.

Inventory data sourced from Orange Water and Sewer Authority (reporting date October 16, 2024; retrieved May 12, 2026 ; curator confidence: high ). Confirmed against the original source automatically each month; see methodology.

Lead and Copper Rule sample data

The most recent measurement per contaminant from EPA's Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) sample table. This is the only per-system sample data EPA publishes in the bulk SDWIS download; values for other regulated contaminants (TTHMs, nitrate, arsenic, etc.) are tracked on this page only when they trigger a violation.

Most recent measurements per contaminant (Lead and Copper Rule) . Sorted by risk: concern first, then caution, then unrated, then safe.
Contaminant Most recent Date Risk
Lead
PB90
 0.00073 mg/L December 31, 2025 Below regulatory thresholds

Lead has no safe level (MCLG=0). LCR action level is 0.015 mg/L for the 90th-percentile sample; the LCRI (Oct 2024) lowers the action level to 0.010 mg/L effective Nov 2027. Caution at any detection above LOD; concern anchored to the future LCRI value (0.010 mg/L) for forward consistency. Learn more about Lead. Source.

PFAS and emerging contaminants (UCMR 5)

EPA's fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule cycle (2023; 2025) tested every public water system serving over 3,300 people for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium. This system was tested 120 times across UCMR 5; 2 of those substances were detected in at least one sample. Most-recent detection per contaminant shown below.

Most recent UCMR 5 detection per contaminant . Sorted by risk: concern first, then caution, then unrated, then safe.
Contaminant Most recent detection Date Risk
PFOA
4.6 ng/LMarch 10, 2025 Concern

April 2024 final rule. MCLG=0. Caution at typical lab reporting limit (0.5 ng/L); concern at EPA MCL (4 ppt), the most conservative federal/state value. Learn more about PFOA. Source.

PFOS
4.8 ng/LMarch 10, 2025 Concern

April 2024 final rule. MCLG=0. Caution at typical lab reporting limit (0.5 ng/L); concern at EPA MCL (4 ppt). Learn more about PFOS. Source.

Tested but not detected (28 contaminants)

EPA tested for these substances and every sample was below the minimum reporting level. Absence of detection does not mean true zero; it means below the laboratory's quantitation threshold.

Compliance history

EPA-recorded violations against this system over the last 5 years. Health-based violations are when a measured limit was exceeded; monitoring and reporting items are paperwork issues (missed sample dates, late filings) that do not themselves indicate unsafe water.

No health-based violations

No health-based violations on file in the last 5 years. EPA recorded 5 monitoring or reporting items (paperwork) during the same period.

5 monitoring and reporting item s (paperwork) · these are not health risks
Monitoring and reporting items in the last 5 years
Period start Relates to Item Status
December 1, 2022 Tthm Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) Resolved
December 1, 2022 Tthm Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) Resolved
December 1, 2022 Tthm Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) Resolved
December 1, 2022 Tthm Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) Resolved
December 1, 2022 Tthm Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) Resolved
4 older violation s (more than 5 years ago)
Violations older than 5 years (4 total)
Period start Relates to Item Status
April 1, 2009 Coliform (Tcr) Monitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) Resolved
April 1, 2009 Coliform (Tcr) Monitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) Resolved
April 1, 2009 Coliform (Tcr) Monitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) Resolved
April 1, 2009 Coliform (Tcr) Monitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) Resolved

Where to see every contaminant this utility tested for

EPA's bulk SDWIS dataset gives MyTapWater.us per-system measured values for lead and copper, plus violation records for everything else. To see every regulated contaminant this utility tested for in the past year (TTHMs, HAA5, nitrate, arsenic, fluoride, chromium, etc.) with measured values, read the utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).

Every community water system is required by EPA to publish a CCR annually, by July 1, listing every contaminant they sampled, the measured value, the federal limit, and any health-based exceedances. Most utilities post the report online; some mail it with your bill.

How to find ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY's CCR:

  • Search "ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY consumer confidence report" in your browser. The PDF is usually on the utility's own website.
  • Or check EPA's CCR finder for NC0368010 (some utilities upload theirs to EPA, some do not).
  • Or call the utility directly. Their phone number is in the contact section below.

Contact this utility

Public administrative contact information for this water system, as filed with the EPA. Use this to ask about your service line, request your home's lead status, or report a water quality issue.

Administrator
TAYLOR, TODD (TAYLOR, TODD)
Phone
919-537-4216
Email
ttaylor@owasa.org
Mailing address
400 JONES FERRY ROAD
ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY
CARRBORO, NC, 27510