1. Reading a Certified Laboratory Test Report for Your Water
When you receive a water test report from a certified laboratory, expect it to list concentrations of various substances found in your water sample. For drinking water, these may include metals, minerals, and other chemical constituents identified by their measured quantities, usually in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or parts per billion (ppb). Each constituent will be enumerated with a concentration value alongside reference ranges or regulatory benchmarks established by federal authorities, helping you interpret the data.
2. What the Asheville Public Water System’s Measured Range Means—and Doesn’t Mean
The Asheville City public water system in Buncombe County sources its water from surface water supplies. According to recent EPA public water system records, this system serves over 157,000 people. Sampling shows no detectable lead concentrations at the 90th percentile in distribution samples, which suggests that lead levels in tap water across the system are very low, although this is a plumbing-related measure, not a source water result. The system has two recorded EPA health-based violations, but the nature of those violations requires further inquiry to understand their relevance to your home’s water quality.
It’s important to understand that these system-wide measurements provide a general profile and do not specify what your household’s water contains. A detection or absence of a constituent in the system data does not guarantee the same result at individual taps. Also, exceeding an aesthetic secondary standard in the system record is not a health violation but affects taste or staining. The municipal water record does not indicate any health-based lead exceedance at this time.
3. How Water Constituents Typically Enter the Distribution System in Buncombe County
Asheville’s water comes from surface sources, such as rivers or reservoirs, rather than wells. Constituents in surface water may originate from natural mineral deposits, runoff from land, or treatment chemicals used by the water utility. After source collection, the water undergoes treatment steps before entering distribution pipes. Constituents can also be introduced or altered in household plumbing materials. Understanding this helps frame where water quality issues originate and what testing or treatment might be necessary.
4. The Order of Investigations: From Simple Checks to Certified Lab Testing
Begin assessing water quality with checks that can be done without specialized equipment. This includes observing water clarity, taste, and odor at the tap. For more precise analysis, start with a certified laboratory test that covers the full range of regulated drinking water constituents and any particular concerns for your area.
If you suspect a specific issue, such as metals or organic compounds, ask the laboratory to include those in the analysis. Comparing your lab results to system data and federal standards helps pinpoint if your water differs from the public supply average or if plumbing factors affect your household water.
5. How Water Source and Sampling Details Affect What to Expect
Because Asheville’s system relies on surface water, certain characteristics differ from groundwater sources like private wells. Surface water may have more variability due to rainfall and environmental factors, but also benefits from centralized treatment. Sample depth for tap testing mostly reflects the water after household plumbing, which can influence results for metals like lead.
Knowing these distinctions guides what tests to order and how to interpret results. For example, a normal municipal supply with no lead at the 90th percentile suggests that detecting lead in your tap water may relate more to your plumbing than the source water.
Final Step: Order a Comprehensive Lead and Metals Test for Your Tap Water
To conclusively determine your household’s drinking water quality and treatment needs, arrange for a comprehensive lead and metals analysis conducted by a certified laboratory on a sample drawn directly from your tap. This test will clarify if constituents of concern exist in your water beyond the system’s reported averages.
The C-Series Whole-Home + Drinking Combo System ships ready to configure and can address multiple water quality challenges detected through testing, making it an effective solution for households ready to improve their drinking water comprehensively.
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2025-12-31. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA SDWIS record for ASHEVILLE CITY OF (NC0111010), surface water supply, serving 157431 people: 2 health-based violations of 6 total; lead 90th percentile 0 mg/L