What was found in Highlands's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 3900 µg/L 39% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: CULLASAJA CLUB · 800 people · 2019 | 5/13 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 485.5 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3523 µg/L — WILDWOOD MOUNTAIN S/D · 81 people · 2019 | 11/13 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 226.44 µg/L 5.7% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: KING MOUNTAIN CLUB WATER · 150 people · 2019 | 7/13 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 27.5 µg/L 183% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 78.2 µg/L — COLD SPRINGS POA · 165 people · 2019 | 11/13 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 68.7 µg/L 86% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 7/13 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 63 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 6/13 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 62.9 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: KING MOUNTAIN CLUB WATER · 150 people · 2017 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 52.8 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 2/13 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 26.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 23.295 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 21.7167 µg/L 72% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: CULLASAJA CLUB · 800 people · 2019 | 8/13 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 19 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 2/13 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 11.9 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.265 µg/L — KING MOUNTAIN CLUB WATER · 150 people · 2019 | 7/13 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.995 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 3/13 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 7.651 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CULLASAJA CLUB · 800 people · 2016 | 3/13 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 5.7 pCi/L 38% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: HIGHGATE S/D · 62 people · 2014 | 3/13 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.335 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 4/13 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 2.5 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 2 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: WILDWOOD MOUNTAIN S/D · 81 people · 2019 | 3/13 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.75 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: COTTAGES AT LAKE OSSEROGA · 93 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.40315 pCi/L 28% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: CULLASAJA CLUB · 800 people · 2016 | 3/13 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.3 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: CULLASAJA CLUB · 800 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: HIGHLANDS FALLS COUNTRY CLUB · 650 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 0.7425 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.6000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: KING MOUNTAIN CLUB WATER · 150 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Picloram | 0.1200 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 500 µg/L Highest in the city: CULLASAJA CLUB · 800 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Methoxychlor | 0.0970 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 40 µg/L Highest in the city: SASSAFRAS GAP EMPLOYEE VILLAGE · 107 people · 2019 | 1/13 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0040 mg/L 27% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF · 6,614 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0250 mg/L — HIGHLANDS FALLS COUNTRY CLUB · 650 people · 2025 | 12/13 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Highlands
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| HIGHLANDS, TOWN OF | 6,614 |
| CULLASAJA CLUB | 800 |
| HIGHLANDS FALLS COUNTRY CLUB | 650 |
| WILDCAT CLIFFS COUNTRY CLUB | 445 |
| COLD SPRINGS POA | 165 |
| KING MOUNTAIN CLUB WATER | 150 |
| CHERRYWOOD TRAILS | 125 |
| FLAT MOUNTAIN ESTATES | 109 |
| SASSAFRAS GAP EMPLOYEE VILLAGE | 107 |
| COTTAGES AT LAKE OSSEROGA | 93 |
| WILDWOOD MOUNTAIN S/D | 81 |
| HIGHGATE S/D | 62 |
| COWEE MOUNTAIN S/D | 46 |
Frequently asked questions about Highlands tap water
Is Highlands tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Highlands. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Highlands?
13 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Highlands, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Highlands's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Highlands include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Lead, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.