Lincoln County, NC

Water Treatment in Lincolnton, NC

City of Lincolnton reports PFAS in its 2025 testing. Here are the numbers, the federal limit, and the filters certified to reduce them.

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Local water snapshot

City of Lincolnton

From its 2025 water quality report · read the full report

Water source: Surface water from the South Fork of the Catawba River (headwaters Jacob Fork and Henry Fork, South Mountain area of southern Burke County); intake above Clark's Creek; City of Lincolnton serves about 16,309 people.; City of Lincolnton, 2025
Disinfectant: Free chlorine; City of Lincolnton, 2025
TTHM (disinfection byproducts): 64 ppb; Highest running annual average (2025); federal limit 80 ppb.; City of Lincolnton, 2025
HAA5 (disinfection byproducts): 45 ppb; Highest running annual average (2025); federal limit 60 ppb.; City of Lincolnton, 2025
Lead (at sampled homes' taps): Not detected; Not detected (2023); 2 sampled homes above the action level. The federal action level is 15 ppb.; City of Lincolnton, 2025
PFOA: 5.6 ppt; Average (2025). EPA's enforceable limit is 4.0 ppt.; City of Lincolnton, 2025
Violations: None marked; No violation is marked in the report's results tables.; City of Lincolnton, 2025

What this means for your home

Lincolnton is inside City of Lincolnton's service area on the state's water-system map.

City of Lincolnton's report doesn't list hardness. Most reservoir-fed systems in this region are soft, but a quick hardness test at your tap is the only way to know before anyone recommends a softener.
City of Lincolnton disinfects with free chlorine. If you notice the taste or smell, NSF/ANSI 42 certified carbon reduces it.
Disinfection byproducts (TTHM) were 64 ppb against an 80 ppb limit. That's compliant; some households still prefer a margin, which NSF/ANSI 53 carbon or reverse osmosis provides.
City of Lincolnton reported PFOA at 5.6 ppt (average (2025)). EPA's enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4.0 ppt. Point-of-use filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS reduce them at the tap.
55.2% of homes in Lincolnton were built before 1980. EPA notes homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead in their plumbing, so a certified-lab lead test at the tap is a sensible first step in an older home.

Recommended for Lincolnton homes

Based on the data above. Your own test results always come first.

Chlorine taste & odorCertified carbon at the kitchen tap or for the whole home.Drinking-water reverse osmosisNSF/ANSI 58 RO at the kitchen tap.PFAS filtrationFilters certified to NSF/ANSI 53/58 for PFOA and PFOS.Water testingCertified-lab lead and full-panel testing.Whole-home filtrationSediment plus catalytic carbon for the whole house.

How it works

Step 1
Test
We read your utility's report with you, and run a certified-lab test when your home calls for one.
Step 2
Design
You get a written recommendation and quote for only what the data supports.
Step 3
Licensed install
An independent licensed plumber installs under a separate agreement with you.
Step 4
Retest
We confirm the system is doing what it's certified to do.

Lincolnton at a glance

Population: 12,465; July 2025 estimate · U.S. Census Bureau, 2025
Households: 5,023; U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter), 2024
Owner-occupied homes: 46.2%; U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter), 2024
Median home value: $248,700; U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter), 2024
Homes built before 1980: 55.2%; U.S. Census Bureau (via Census Reporter), 2024

Lincolnton water questions

Who supplies water in Lincolnton?

Lincolnton is inside City of Lincolnton's service area on the state's water-system map. Its supply is surface water from the south fork of the catawba river (headwaters jacob fork and henry fork, south mountain area of southern burke county); intake above clark's creek. EPA's registry lists it serving about 16,309 people.

Does City of Lincolnton report PFAS?

PFOA was reported at 5.6 ppt (average (2025)), compared with EPA's 4.0 ppt limit. EPA's enforceable limits for PFOA and PFOS are 4.0 parts per trillion; other proposed PFAS limits are under review.

Do homes in Lincoln County use private wells?

Many homes outside town water lines do. In state testing of private wells in Lincoln County, 3.64% of 2,333 private wells tested (85 wells) were above the 10 µg/L EPA drinking water standard (MCL) for arsenic. These figures describe the wells that were tested, not every well in the county.

How old are homes in Lincolnton, and does that matter for water?

Census estimates put 55.2% of Lincolnton homes as built before 1980. Lead usually comes from a home's own plumbing, not the utility, so in older homes a certified-lab lead test at the tap is the honest starting point.

Do you serve Lincolnton?

Yes. Lincolnton is about 49 minutes from our Charlotte base. Installation is performed by an independent, NC-licensed plumbing contractor under a separate agreement with you.

Do I need a permit to install a water treatment system?

Whole-house treatment is plumbing work in North Carolina. Your independent licensed plumber determines and pulls any permit Lincoln County requires.

Nearby areas we serve

All of Lincoln County Every county and town we serve Look up your water by ZIP

Get an honest answer about Lincolnton water.

Tell us about your home and water source. We'll recommend testing first, and only the equipment your results support.