01The verdict: is Carolina water safe?
Carolina's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B+ (82.8/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 825 residents using groundwater (wells).
3 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Top half in Puerto Rico
Carolina ranks #5 of 101 graded Puerto Rico cities.
See the comparison ↓7 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Carolina's drinking water received a grade of B+ (82.8 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 825 residents using groundwater.
Lead data is not currently available for this system. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 26 violations on record, including 3 health-based violations. 3 remain unresolved.
Carolina ranks #5 out of 101 cities in Puerto Rico for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state. Carolina relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, Carolina may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 7 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Carolina's water
Every contaminant flagged in Carolina, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
No contaminants were measured above screening thresholds in the most recent EPA sampling data for this system. The full testing table below lists everything checked.
Full contaminants report
No contaminant data available for this city.
03Carolina's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 26 violations on record, including 3 health-based violations. 3 remain unresolved.
7 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
04Where Carolina's water comes from
Carolina's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
2 systems
2 water systems, operated under private ownership.
825 people
Residents served across Carolina's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by private ownership and serves approximately 825 people through 2 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SISTEMA DE AGUA DUAL BARRAZA | PR0116041 | 800 | Groundwater |
| PLT. MUNICIPAL CAROLINA | PR0116051 | 25 | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Carolina
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Carolina's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Drought
Carolina Municipio is in D1 (moderate drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Carolina compares
Scores for nearby Puerto Rico cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Puerto Rico average (39/100)
Carolina scores 82.8/100 — above the Puerto Rico average of 39/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.
38.5 / 100FToa Alta, PR
38.5 / 100FMayaguez, PR
42.1 / 100FPonce, PR
34.9 / 100FAguadilla, PR
38.3 / 100FRincon, PR
38.3 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Carolina's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Carolina's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Carolina alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Carolina, PR tap water safe to drink?
Carolina's water quality earned a grade of B+ (82.8/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #5 out of 101 cities tested in Puerto Rico.
What contaminants are in Carolina's water?
26 violations are on record.
How is Carolina's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Carolina?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Carolina's water come from?
Carolina's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 2 water systems serving approximately 825 residents.
What health violations has Carolina's water system had?
Carolina has 3 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in October 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 3 violations remain unresolved.
Is Carolina's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Carolina uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 26 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Carolina's water compare to other cities?
Carolina ranks #5 out of 101 cities in Puerto Rico (better than 95% of state cities) and #6726 out of 15382 cities nationally (56th percentile). The grade of B+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.