Public water system · NC0187517
ActiveBalsam Mountain Campground
At a glance
Balsam Mountain Campground (PWSID NC0187517) is an active transient non-community water system in Swain County, North Carolina. It reports serving 25 people through 6 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by the federal government. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
25
Service connections
6
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
TNCWS
Transient non-community water system
System record
How does Balsam Mountain Campground compare with other water systems in Swain County?
By EPA's size categories, Balsam Mountain Campground is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Swain County has 56 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 182 people per system, and accounts for 0.2% of the 10,163 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across North Carolina, the 5,087 active systems average 1,971 people each. Nationally, the average active transient non-community water system reports serving 144 people, so Balsam Mountain Campground is well below that figure.
What does “transient non-community water system” mean?
A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. North Carolina has 2,745 active transient non-community water systems, 54% of the state's 5,087 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 4,566 North Carolina systems (90%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Balsam Mountain Campground?
EPA lists Balsam Mountain Campground as owned by the federal government. The NC state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 3 of the 56 active systems in Swain County (5.4%) are also owned by the federal government.
Does Balsam Mountain Campground have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025. The violations listed here began between July 1998 and September 2025. By type: 3 monitoring and reporting, 2 reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (4 of them). EPA lists 6 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-11 | ReportingReport Sample Result/Fail Monitor (RTCR) · code 4B | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-08-11 | ReportingReport Sample Result/Fail Monitor (RTCR) · code 4B | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2000-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1999-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1998-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 6 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Balsam Mountain Campground: frequently asked questions
Who runs Balsam Mountain Campground?
Balsam Mountain Campground (PWSID NC0187517) is a transient non-community water system owned by the federal government. It is regulated by the NC state drinking water program.
How many people does Balsam Mountain Campground serve?
Balsam Mountain Campground reports serving 25 people through 6 service connections in Swain County, North Carolina.
Where does Balsam Mountain Campground get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Balsam Mountain Campground have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Balsam Mountain Campground's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in September 2025. For current results, consult EPA ECHO, or the NC state drinking water program.
Where can I find Balsam Mountain Campground's water quality report?
The annual Consumer Confidence Report requirement applies to community water systems. Balsam Mountain Campground is a transient non-community water system, so it is not required to publish one; like every public water system, it must notify the people it serves about violations under EPA's public notification rules.
Other water systems in Swain County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryson City, Town of | Swain | 4,395 | Community | Surface water |
| Ferebee Memorial Park | Swain | 500 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| West Swain Elem School | Swain | 450 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| East Swain Elem School | Swain | 440 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Smoky Mtn Country Club Estates | Swain | 318 | Community | Groundwater |
| Time Out Market #23 | Swain | 300 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Balsam Mountain Campground, PWSID NC0187517, North Carolina”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/north-carolina/balsam-mountain-campground-nc0187517 (data as of October 1, 2026).