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Public water system record

Cowee Mountain S/D

Serves an area of Macon County, NC that includes Highlands · 46 people served

Federal records show no health-based violations and 4 monitoring/reporting issues for Cowee Mountain S/D in the last ten years.

  • NC0157153
  • CULLOWHEE
  • NC
  • 46 served

System profile

Source water Groundwater
ZIP 28723
EPA system ID NC0157153

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
0
Resolved
0
Unresolved
0
Any acute record
No
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
4

Key facts

  • Cowee Mountain S/D draws water from 2 wells (1 of them for emergency, seasonal or other part-time use).
  • Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by North Carolina, October 2025.
  • Record on file since 2002, with 0 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 0 unknown out of 29 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.

None since October 2016.

Monitoring and reporting issues

Since October 2016

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

Issue Start date Status
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring and reporting
 Jan 1, 2023 Archived
Violation period ended. EPA no longer counts it toward current compliance, but no fix was formally recorded.
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Jul 1, 2021 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Jul 1, 2020 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Jul 1, 2019 Resolved

Full record since 2002

EPA's records for Cowee Mountain S/D go back to 2002. Before October 19, 2016 they list no health-based violations and 69 monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
2000s 0 61
2010 to October 18, 2016 0 8
October 19, 2016 to 2019 0 1
2020s 0 3

Enforcement actions

North Carolina regulators took 6 formal enforcement actions against Cowee Mountain S/D between 2008 and 2025, filed as 7 records in EPA's data. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in October 2025.

Date By Action Violations covered
Oct 24, 2025 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Nov 13, 2019 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule
Apr 18, 2012 North Carolina Compliance order with a penalty 1 violation: Total Coliform
Apr 18, 2011 North Carolina Compliance order with a penalty 1 violation: Total Coliform
Mar 10, 2011 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 2 violations: Chlorine, Total Coliform
Apr 9, 2008 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule

Where the water comes from

Cowee Mountain S/D draws water from 2 wells (1 of them for emergency, seasonal or other part-time use).

Annual water quality report

Cowee Mountain S/D 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 500 or fewer people may meet the rule by telling customers the report is available on request, so you may need to ask Cowee Mountain S/D for a copy.

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