MONROE, N.C. – August 14, 2025 – The City of Monroe has lifted the Boil Water Notice issued on August 13 for the majority of customers. Customers in the East Zone may resume normal water use without boiling.
Monroe’s water system is made up of two independent zones: the East Zone and the West Zone. These zones do not share water, which allows issues in one area to be isolated without affecting the other.
From the start, the City was confident the contamination was contained to a small area of the West Zone, affecting nine customers, and that the East Zone remained safe. However, under direction from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the City issued a system-wide boil notice as a precaution.
City staff continued working closely with state officials to review system data and demonstrate that the East Zone was unaffected. Thursday morning, the City removed the boil water notice from all customers in the East Zone, with the acknowledgment of NCDEQ. Customers in that zone may now resume normal water use without boiling.
East or West Zone:
The City of Monroe has produced an interactive map to let customers search their address and see which zone they are in.
Click here to access that system.
East Zone customers (about two-thirds of the system) may now use water normally.
West Zone customers remain under the Boil Water Notice while final testing continues. That notice is currently expected to be lifted by Friday afternoon.
While the City believes the affected areas have been isolated and flushed, the West Zone remains under the NCDEQ ordered Boil Water Notice until final state-required testing is complete. That testing is expected to conclude by Friday afternoon.
Background
E. coli was originally detected in a small part of the West Zone near Monroe Fire Department Station 4 at 3907Old Charlotte Highway. That section was quickly isolated to nine customers. Although the City was confident water from that area could not reach the East Zone, DEQ required a citywide precautionary notice before allowing any system reopening. That notice was issued Wednesday evening.
Questions and contacts
Residents unsure of their zone: Check the interactive map or call Monroe Water Resources at (704) 282-4601.
Businesses with questions regarding permits or operations: Contact Union County Environmental Health at (704) 283-3553.
The City will continue to share updates on social media, its website, and through public alerts as final testing wraps up.