Union County, Monroe & Charlotte Water: What Homeowners Should Know This Month
By Oscar Gonzalo Perez, General Manager, Elementa NC · Monroe, NC
Each week we share short water explainers for families in Union County, Monroe and the Charlotte area. Here are the Oct 19–25, 2026 topics in one place, with links to the public sources.
Private well in Union County? Start with a testing schedule
According to Union County Environmental Health, about 25 percent of Union County's population relies on groundwater for drinking water, and private well owners are responsible for making sure their water is safe.
The county recommends this routine testing schedule:
Every year: total and fecal coliform bacteria
Every two or three years: heavy metals, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper
Every five years: pesticides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or yearly if you know a particular pesticide is used nearby
Union County also explains that about two-thirds of the county sits on the "Carolina Slate Belt," rock formations linked to more wells with arsenic than other regions. Arsenic usually can't be seen, smelled or tasted, so testing is the only way to know. Union County Environmental Health (500 N. Main Street, Monroe) offers well water sampling, including an inorganic panel.
NC DHHS adds that wells should also be tested after repairs to the well system, after flooding, and if you notice a change in taste, color or odor.
PFAS news from southeastern NC: what it means (and doesn't) for you
In September, the NC Attorney General and NC DEQ announced a settlement with DuPont and Chemours over PFAS contamination from the Fayetteville Works plant, which DEQ calls the largest environmental damages recovery in state history. Robeson County, one of 11 local governments in the deal, said it will use its share for advanced filtration of public water and continued landfill monitoring.
In March 2025, NC DEQ also directed Chemours to expand private well sampling to parts of Hoke and Harnett counties. Under the 2019 Consent Order, a well with GenX at or above 10 parts per trillion qualifies for a granular activated carbon (GAC) system, municipal water, or reverse osmosis units for each sink. Residents in those counties request sampling through Chemours at (910) 678-1101, according to DEQ.
For Union County and Charlotte-area families: those programs cover the area around Fayetteville Works, not our counties. If you're on a well here, your starting point is the Union County testing schedule above. If you're on city or county water, your starting point is your utility's annual water quality report.
Why would a utility add something to the water on purpose?
One example is orthophosphate. The City of Winston-Salem's 2022 Water Quality Report lists it as a "water treatment additive to prevent pipe corrosion" and ties its target range to reducing lead and copper corrosion.
If you live in an older home in Monroe, Matthews or Charlotte, ask your utility about lead and copper testing and your service line. Every community water system has to send customers an annual drinking water quality report (a Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, according to the EPA.
Tap water tastes earthy or musty?
That taste can come from geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB). The same Winston-Salem report says these compounds are created by algae in raw water and can cause an earthy or musty taste or odor. The report says there are no known negative health impacts from drinking them. If your tap water's taste changes, check your utility's report and call them with questions. Well owners should treat a new taste, color or odor as a reason to test, per NC DHHS.
Spots on your glasses? Crust on your faucet?
The USGS explains that water hardness comes mainly from dissolved calcium and magnesium. You may notice it when your hands still feel slimy after washing with soap, or when your drinking glasses don't come out crystal clear. Over time those minerals can build up as scale on faucets and showerheads.
If you're on public water, your utility's annual report may list hardness. If you're on a well, Union County's inorganic panel includes it. Once you know what you're working with, you can compare options that may help reduce scale.
Same county, different water rules: who's your provider?
As of this writing, the rules depend on who supplies your water:
Union County Water: Stage 2 mandatory restrictions are in effect. Spray irrigation is limited to two days a week, only before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Even addresses water on Tuesdays and Saturdays, odd addresses on Wednesdays and Sundays. Conservation rates apply during Stage 2.
City of Monroe: moved from Stage 2 to Stage 1 voluntary conservation on July 27, 2026.
Private wells: Union County's notice says county water regulations don't apply to private well water.
A free in-home water test, explained in English or Spanish
If you'd like help making sense of your water, Elementa NC offers a free in-home water test across Monroe, Charlotte and Union County. We come to your home, walk you through the results in plain language, in English or Spanish, and answer your questions. If you want to look at options, we can talk through whole-house filtration and reverse osmosis systems designed to help reduce what your test shows. For regulated contaminants such as bacteria, arsenic or nitrate on a private well, we'll also point you to a certified lab or Union County Environmental Health.
Book your free in-home water test or call the Elementa NC office at (866) 775-6381.
FAQ
How often should I test my private well in Union County, NC?
Union County Environmental Health recommends coliform bacteria every year; heavy metals, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper every two to three years; and pesticides and VOCs every five years.
Does the Chemours well sampling program cover Union County or Monroe?
No. NC DEQ lists Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Robeson and Sampson counties for the Fayetteville Works sampling area. Union County well owners can request testing through Union County Environmental Health.
Do Union County watering restrictions apply to my well?
No. Union County says its water regulations don't apply to private well water. Customers of Union County Water do follow the Stage 2 schedule.
Where can I find my water utility's report?
Your utility has to send its annual water quality report (CCR) by July 1 each year. Check its website, or use the EPA's CCR information page.
Resumen en español
Este mes resumimos temas de agua para familias de Union County, Monroe y Charlotte. Si tienes pozo privado, Union County recomienda analizar bacterias cada año; metales, nitratos, plomo y cobre cada dos o tres años; y pesticidas y VOC cada cinco años. Cerca de dos tercios del condado está sobre el "Carolina Slate Belt", donde hay más pozos con arsénico, y la única forma de saberlo es con una prueba. El programa de muestreo de Chemours cubre condados cerca de Fayetteville Works, no Union County. Un sabor a tierra puede venir de la geosmina y el MIB, que según el reporte de Winston-Salem no tienen efectos negativos conocidos para la salud. Las manchas en los vasos pueden ser señal de agua dura (calcio y magnesio). Union County Water sigue en Etapa 2, y Monroe está en Etapa 1 voluntaria desde el 27 de julio. ¿Quieres entender tu agua? Agenda tu prueba de agua gratis en casa, con resultados explicados en español o inglés: www.elementanc.com/es/the-experience o llama al (866) 775-6381.
Sources
Union County, NC: Wells and Water Testing (Environmental Health): https://www.unioncountync.gov/government/departments-a-e/environmental-health/wells-and-water-testing
NC DHHS: Private Wells, Frequently Asked Questions about Testing: https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oee/wellwater/faqs.html
NC DEQ press release (Sep 10, 2026), DuPont/Chemours PFAS settlement: https://www.deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2026/09/10/attorney-general-jackson-deq-secretary-wilson-announce-nearly-600m-deal-dupontchemours-largest-state
WMBF News (Sep 11, 2026), Robeson County statement on the PFAS settlement: https://www.wmbfnews.com/2026/09/11/robeson-county-says-massive-pfas-settlement-will-fund-clean-water-efforts/
NC DEQ: Well Sampling Information for Residents in Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Robeson and Sampson Counties: https://www.deq.nc.gov/news/key-issues/genx-investigation/genx-information-residents
NC DEQ press release (Mar 10, 2025): NC DEQ Directs Chemours to Significantly Expand Well Testing: https://www.deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/03/10/nc-deq-directs-chemours-significantly-expand-well-testing
City of Winston-Salem: Water Quality Report 2022: https://www.cityofws.org/3390
US EPA: CCR Information for Consumers: https://www.epa.gov/ccr/ccr-information-consumers
USGS Water Science School: Hardness of Water: https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/hardness-water
Union County Water: Current Stage of Water Restrictions: https://www.unioncountywater.org/customer-care/union-conserves/current-stage-of-water-restrictions
City of Monroe: Water Supply & Restriction Status: https://www.monroenc.org/285/Water-Supply-Restriction-Status
Town of Indian Trail (Union County notice, May 15, 2026): Union County Shifts to Stage 2 Water Conservation Due to Severe Drought: https://www.indiantrail.org/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/793
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