Avery County, North Carolina: drinking water report. Avery County – Newland and Banner Elk – serves about 18,000 residents in the highest-elevation county
Avery County – Newland and Banner Elk – serves about 18,000 residents in the highest-elevation county in the Blue Ridge. Water comes from mountain springs and streams at elevations exceeding 3,500 feet, producing some of the purest municipal source water in the Southeast.
Avery County's high mountain sources are essentially free of the contamination concerns that affect lower-elevation, more developed counties. UCMR5 data shows no PFAS detections. According to NC DEQ's 2024 data, systems met all standards. The 2024 Hurricane Helene flooding affected some infrastructure in the county.
Avery County's water quality is among the best in North Carolina.
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