McDowell County Water Quality

McDowell County, North Carolina has a water quality grade of F with a score of 24.3/100, based on EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System data. The county has 14 health-based drinking water violations on record.

McDowell County has 14 health-based drinking water violations recorded by the EPA. Health-based violations indicate instances where contaminant levels exceeded EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Violations may have been resolved — check with your local water utility for current status.

McDowell County's water quality score of 24.3/100 is lower than the North Carolina state average of 53.0. The average water quality grade across North Carolina is D, based on data from 100 counties with available water quality data.

Based on EPA data, McDowell County has a water quality grade of F (24.3/100). This indicates below-average water quality with significant compliance issues. Residents may want to consider home water filtration. For the most up-to-date information, contact your local water utility or review your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).

McDowell County has 14 health-based drinking water violations on record from the EPA SDWIS database. A higher violation count can result from aging infrastructure, underfunded water utilities, agricultural runoff contamination, or industrial pollution. Counties with more water systems may also see more violations simply due to scale. Residents concerned about water quality should consider independent water testing and home filtration systems.

McDowell County ranks #95 out of 100 counties in North Carolina by water quality score (1 = best). With a score of 24.3/100, it falls in the bottom third of counties statewide. Rankings are based on EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) data including health-based violations and compliance records.