Is there PFAS in Robeson County Water System water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Robeson County Water System averaged 26.0 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 6.5 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

Robeson County Water System is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Lumberton, North Carolina, serving about 67,970 people, including Fayetteville, Barnesville, Fairmont, Lumber Bridge, Lumberton, Maxton. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 24 times across 12 sampling points between Feb 2023 and Jul 2023.

Every PFAS detected

Not detected: PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFDoA, PFDA, PFNA, PFEESA, NMeFOSAA, PFTA, PFTrDA, PFHpS, PFMPA, NFDHA, PFMBA, 8:2 FTS, NEtFOSAA, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS.

Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 12 ppb, detected in 1 of 24 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.

What the EPA limits mean here

In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.

Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.

What you can do at home

Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.

Other systems in North Carolina

• Old North Utilities Services/ft Bragg above an EPA limit
• City of Hickory none detected
• City of Burlington above an EPA limit
• Cleveland County Water none detected
• City of Hendersonville none detected
• City of Kannapolis above an EPA limit

All 291 tested systems in North Carolina

ZIP codes served

28301 28319 28340 28357 28358 28359 28360 28364 28369 28371 28372 28375 28377 28378 28383 28384 28386

As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.

Cite this page

Well & Tap. "PFAS in Robeson County Water System water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID NC0378055. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/north-carolina/robeson-county-water-system/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID NC0378055). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.