01The verdict: is Mt Pleasant water safe?
Mt Pleasant's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D (45.9/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,722 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
8 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 ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓HAA5 is approaching its limit
Measured at 52.1 µg/L — 87% of the 60 µg/L limit. Within the rules, but with less headroom than you'd want.
See the ledger ↓Mt Pleasant's drinking water received a grade of D (45.9 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,722 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 115 violations on record, including 19 health-based violations. 8 remain unresolved.
Mt Pleasant ranks #331 out of 400 cities in North Carolina for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Haloacetic acid (HAA5) levels were elevated at 52.1 µg/L in UCMR 4 testing, though below the 60 µg/L EPA limit. Activated carbon filtration can help reduce these disinfection byproducts. As a small community water system, Mt Pleasant may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 23 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Mt Pleasant's water
Every contaminant flagged in Mt Pleasant, 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.
Near MCL — EPA MCL: 60 µg/L
Disinfection byproducts form when chlorine reacts with organic matter in source water, typically peaking in warm months. An activated-carbon filter reduces them at the tap.Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in North Carolina
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in North Carolina
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Mt Pleasant'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 115 violations on record, including 19 health-based violations. 8 remain unresolved.
6 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.
0ppb(2025)
One sampling round on record — 0% of the 15ppb EPA action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Mt Pleasant's water comes from
Mt Pleasant's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
1,722 people
Residents served across Mt Pleasant's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,722 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOUNT PLEASANT, TOWN OF | NC0113020 | 1,722 | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Mt Pleasant
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Mt Pleasant's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Mt Pleasant'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.
Flood & storm history
7 federal disaster declarations on record for Cabarrus County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Cabarrus County is in D3 (extreme 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 Mt Pleasant compares
Scores for nearby North Carolina cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = North Carolina average (43/100)
Mt Pleasant scores 45.9/100 — on par with the North Carolina average of 43/100. It outscores 8 of 10 nearby cities. Full North Carolina rankings →
36.5 / 100FRaleigh, NC
30.7 / 100AClemmons, NC
86 / 100FDurham, NC
36.6 / 100FGreensboro, NC
33.5 / 100FCary, NC
34.6 / 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 Mt Pleasant's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Mt Pleasant'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 Mt Pleasant alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Mt Pleasant, NC tap water safe to drink?
Mt Pleasant's water quality earned a grade of D (45.9/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #331 out of 400 cities tested in North Carolina.
What contaminants are in Mt Pleasant's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 115 violations are on record.
How is Mt Pleasant'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 Mt Pleasant?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Mt Pleasant's water come from?
Mt Pleasant's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,722 residents.
What health violations has Mt Pleasant's water system had?
Mt Pleasant has 19 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in October 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 8 violations remain unresolved.
How does Mt Pleasant's water compare to other cities?
Mt Pleasant ranks #331 out of 400 cities in North Carolina (better than 17% of state cities) and #13809 out of 15382 cities nationally (10th percentile). The grade of D reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Mt Pleasant's small water system affect quality?
Mt Pleasant's system serves approximately 1,722 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 115 violations on record.