Public water system record
Cherokee Water System
Serves Cherokee, Swain County and Jackson County, NC · 16,203 people served
Federal records show 5 health-based violations and no monitoring/reporting issues for Cherokee Water System in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 5
- Resolved
- 1
- Unresolved
- 0
- Archived by EPA
- 4
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 0
Key facts
- Cherokee Water System draws water from 1 surface water intake.
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Trichloroethylene, 0.0248 mg/L, federal limit 0.005 mg/L (5 times the limit), 2023.
- Record on file since 2004, with 0 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 1 lead and 870 unknown out of 2,583 service lines.
Check whether Cherokee Water System serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Treatment technique failure
|
350 | Nov 15, 2024 | Resolved | No |
|
Tetrachloroethylene
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.0243 mg/L, federal limit 0.005 mg/L (4.9 times the limit)
|
310 | Jan 1, 2023 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
|
Trichloroethylene
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.0248 mg/L, federal limit 0.005 mg/L (5 times the limit)
|
310 | Jan 1, 2023 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
|
Vinyl chloride
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
310 | Jan 1, 2023 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
|
Carbon tetrachloride
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.0247 mg/L, federal limit 0.005 mg/L (4.9 times the limit)
|
310 | Jan 1, 2023 |
Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
|
No |
Full record since 2004
EPA's records for Cherokee Water System go back to 2004. Before October 19, 2016 they list no health-based violations and 2 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020s | 5 | 0 |
What the violations mean
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
1 incidentThe system did not complete a treatment step or action that the LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS requires (a treatment technique violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Tetrachloroethylene
1 incidentTest results for Tetrachloroethylene were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Trichloroethylene
1 incidentTest results for Trichloroethylene were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Vinyl chloride
1 incidentTest results for Vinyl chloride were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Carbon tetrachloride
1 incidentTest results for Carbon tetrachloride were above the federal limit (a maximum contaminant level violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Where the water comes from
Cherokee Water System draws water from 1 surface water intake.
Annual water quality report
Cherokee Water System must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by EPA Region 4.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells