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Public water system record

The Cape Master System

Serves an area of New Hanover County, NC that includes Wilmington, Sea Breeze and Silver Lake · 11,587 people served

Federal records show 6 health-based violations and 2 monitoring/reporting issues for The Cape Master System in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) violation.

  • NC0465199
  • CARY
  • NC
  • 11,587 served

System profile

Source water Groundwater
ZIP 27511
EPA system ID NC0465199

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
6
Resolved
6
Unresolved
0
Any acute record
No
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
2

Key facts

  • The Cape Master System draws water from 12 wells.
  • Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), 0.093 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.2 times the limit), 2020.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by North Carolina, November 2024.
  • Record on file since 1996, with 3 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 55 unknown out of 4,691 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
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.093 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
 220 Jan 1, 2020 Resolved No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.086 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 220 Oct 1, 2019 Resolved No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.084 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 220 Jul 1, 2019 Resolved No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.087 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 220 Apr 1, 2019 Resolved No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.09 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 220 Jul 1, 2017 Resolved No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.085 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 220 Apr 1, 2017 Resolved No

Monitoring and reporting issues

Since October 2016

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

Issue Start date Status
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Jul 1, 2024 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring and reporting
 Jul 1, 2018 Resolved

Full record since 1996

EPA's records for The Cape Master System go back to 1996. Before October 19, 2016 they list 3 health-based violations (3 resolved) and 45 monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
1990s 1 2
2000s 1 42
2010 to October 18, 2016 1 1
October 19, 2016 to 2019 5 1
2020s 1 1

Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), began January 2010, Resolved.

Show all 3 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.083 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
 Jan 1, 2010 Resolved
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.089 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 Oct 1, 2009 Resolved
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
 Jun 1, 1997 Resolved

Enforcement actions

North Carolina regulators took 5 formal enforcement actions against The Cape Master System between 2010 and 2024. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in November 2024.

Date By Action Violations covered
Nov 14, 2024 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Consumer Confidence Rule
Nov 8, 2018 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Chlorine
Jul 17, 2017 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 6 violations (6 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Jan 7, 2011 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation: Public Notice
Mar 3, 2010 North Carolina Compliance order (no penalty) 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

What the violations mean

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

6 incidents

Disinfection byproduct levels exceeded the federal limit

Long-term TTHM exposure may increase bladder cancer risk

Where the water comes from

The Cape Master System draws water from 12 wells.

Annual water quality report

The Cape Master 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 North Carolina.

Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells