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Public water system record

Town of Highlands

Serves Highlands, Macon County, NC · 6,614 people served

Federal records show 3 health-based violations and 10 monitoring/reporting issues for Town of Highlands in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS violation.

  • NC0157015
  • HIGHLANDS
  • NC
  • 6,614 served

System profile

Source water Surface water
ZIP 28741
EPA system ID NC0157015

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
3
Resolved
3
Unresolved
0
Any acute record
No
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
10

Key facts

  • Town of Highlands draws water from 3 surface water intakes.
  • Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), 0.067 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.1 times the limit), 2022.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order with a penalty by North Carolina, September 2023.
  • Record on file since 1981, with 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 2,105 unknown out of 2,351 service lines.

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Health-based violations

Since October 2016

Violation 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 Oct 17, 2024 Resolved No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.065 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 220 Jan 1, 2023 Resolved No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.067 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 220 Oct 1, 2022 Resolved No

Monitoring and reporting issues

Since October 2016

Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.

Issue Start date Status
Revised Total Coliform Rule
RPT
 Aug 11, 2025 Resolved
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
RPT
 Oct 17, 2024 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2023 Resolved
2,4-D
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2022 Resolved
Public Notice
OTHER
 Jun 19, 2021 Resolved
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring and reporting
 Feb 29, 2020 Resolved
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Monitoring and reporting
 Feb 29, 2020 Resolved
Public Notice
OTHER
 Dec 19, 2019 Resolved
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring and reporting
 Sep 1, 2018 Resolved
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Monitoring and reporting
 Sep 1, 2018 Resolved

Full record since 1981

EPA's records for Town of Highlands go back to 1981. Before October 19, 2016 they list 2 health-based violations (2 resolved) and 63 monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
1980s 0 16
1990s 1 15
2000s 1 28
2010 to October 18, 2016 0 4
October 19, 2016 to 2019 0 3
2020s 3 7

Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Surface Water Treatment Rule, began February 2003, Resolved.

Show all 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
 Feb 1, 2003 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
 Jan 1, 1992 Resolved

Enforcement actions

North Carolina regulators took 13 formal enforcement actions against Town of Highlands between 1995 and 2023. The most recent was a compliance order with a penalty in September 2023.

Date By Action Violations covered
Sep 7, 2023 North Carolina Compliance order with a penalty 1 violation: CARBON, TOTAL
May 3, 2023 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: CARBON, TOTAL
Jan 13, 2023 North Carolina Compliance order with a penalty 1 violation: 2,4-D
Dec 22, 2022 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 2 violations (2 health-based): Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Nov 10, 2022 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: 2,4-D
Sep 7, 2021 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Public Notice
Jun 18, 2020 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 2 violations: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Feb 13, 2020 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Public Notice
Dec 18, 2018 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 2 violations: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Jul 21, 2015 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 2 violations: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Feb 16, 2015 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 2 violations: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
May 23, 2008 North Carolina Compliance order with a penalty 26 violations: Heptachlor epoxide, 2,4-D, 2,4,5-TP, HEXACHLOROBENZENE, Pentachlorophenol
Jun 9, 1995 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Surface Water Treatment Rule

What the violations mean

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

2 incidents

Haloacetic acid byproducts exceeded the federal limit

Long-term exposure to HAAs may increase cancer risk

LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS

1 incident

The 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.

Where the water comes from

Town of Highlands draws water from 3 surface water intakes.

Annual water quality report

Town of Highlands 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.

Where the state allows it, systems serving fewer than 10,000 people may publish the report in a local newspaper or news site instead of mailing it, and must provide a copy on request.

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 North Carolina.

Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells