Unregulated Contaminants
Unregulated contaminants or contaminants of emerging concern are compounds for which the EPA has not set a maximum contaminant level (MCL). Some compounds are being studied to better assess how standards for those contaminants can be developed, for example, "forever chemicals." Some compounds have a health advisory standard, which is a suggested limit but not a regulated limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Charlotte Water, working with the EPA and North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, has been testing contaminants of emerging concern or unregulated contaminants.
In addition to participating in the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (results can be found in the Charlotte Water Consumer Confidence reports), Charlotte Water has been working with an outside certified laboratory to analyze drinking water samples for over 700 unregulated compounds.
The majority of the 700 contaminants of emerging concern that Charlotte Water tests for are considered "non-detects," meaning monitoring results did not yield a detectable concentration of that compound, including many PFAS/PFOA "forever chemicals." They are listed on Consumer Confidence Report.
More About PFAS/PFOA, "Forever Chemicals"
PFAS and PFOA compounds are part of a family of prevalent chemicals that do not break down naturally in the environment, also known as "forever chemicals." As of April 10, 2024, the EPA has established an MCL for the PFAS/PFOA family of chemicals (EPA PFAS Information). Charlotte Water proactively monitors for 70 per- and poly-fluorinated chemicals and meets or exceeds all drinking water standards. Results from these tests show very low levels of PFAS/PFOA, with most compounds undetectable.
Unregulated Contaminants Test Results
The data presented below is current as of March 1, 2024, and is an annual summary reflecting the highest result detected during quarterly testing. Please note that the units for each compound are either parts per billion (ppb) or parts per trillion (ppt). Additional EPA health advisory levels are noted in the third column, with the legend available below as footnotes.
| Contaminant (units) |
Result (Highest) |
EPA Health Advisory
(DWEL used unless otherwise noted) |
| Boron (ppb) |
37 |
7,000 1 |
| Bromochloroacetic acid (ppb) |
3.3
|
- |
| Bromochloroacetonitrile (ppb) |
0.83 |
|
| Bromodichloroacetic acid (ppb) |
1.3 |
- |
| Chromium, Hexavalent (ppb) |
0.14 |
-
|
| Dibromoacetonitrile (ppb) |
0.52 |
|
| Dichloroacetonitrile (ppb) |
1.2 |
|
| Iodate (ppb) |
7.0 |
|
| Perchlorate (ppb) |
0.06 |
252 |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (ppt) |
2.4 |
|
| Perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) (ppt) |
2.6 |
|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (ppt) |
1.7 |
0.0043 |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) (ppt) |
2.7 |
|
| Strontium (ppb) |
39 |
20,0001 |
Definitions from the EPA 2018 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories Tables(PDF, 777KB):
Health Advisory (HA): An estimate of acceptable drinking water levels for a chemical substance based on health effects information; an HA is not a legally enforceable Federal standard but serves as technical guidance to assist Federal, State, and local officials.
1DWEL: Drinking Water Equivalent Level. A DWEL is a drinking water lifetime exposure level, assuming 100% exposure from that medium, at which adverse, non-carcinogenic health effects would not be expected to occur.
2Cancer Group: A qualitative weight-of-evidence judgment as to the likelihood that a chemical may be a carcinogen for humans. Sufficient evidence in animals and inadequate or no evidence in humans.
3Subchronic value for pregnant women.
4Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) was established April 10, 2024. EPA PFAS Information