Rowan, NC
Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.
Environmental data for Rowan in North Carolina · Population: 148,487
TRI sites such as Chroma Color Corp; Southern Co Rowan County Power Plant; Henkel US Operations Corp; SDWIS systems such as SALISBURY-ROWAN; LANDIS, TOWN OF; CHINA GROVE, TOWN OF; NPL sites such as National Starch & Chemical Corp. anchor Rowan, NC's EPA extract. Derived burden score 63/100 (High Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Rowan include SALISBURY-ROWAN; CHINA GROVE, TOWN OF; FAITH, TOWN OF, while Chroma Color Corp leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 44 / peak 97 in 2024.
Burden score 63/100 (High Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Rowan -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
Release-over-release change
What changed for Rowan, NC: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
-8.9%
24 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
-8.9%
462.4 thousand lb → 421.1 thousand lb, every facility that filed
Between the two reporting years, 0 facilities filed for the first time and 1 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.
- Rowan, NC's total reported releases fell from 462.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 421.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Rowan, NC's land releases rose from 70 lb in 2022 to 112 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Rowan, NC's off-site transfers fell from 213.0 thousand lb in 2022 to 150.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Rowan, NC's air releases rose from 249.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 270.6 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy (SG) | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 252 (69%) | 112 | 0 | 97 |
| 2023 | 210 (58%) | 150 | 3 | 122 |
| 2022 | 230 (63%) | 134 | 0 | 87 |
| 2021 | 244 (67%) | 120 | 0 | 87 |
| 2020 | 253 (69%) | 112 | 0 | 90 |
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)
For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in North Carolina, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (23)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| SALISBURY-ROWAN | 46,156 | 5 |
| LANDIS, TOWN OF | 5,510 | 0 |
| CHINA GROVE, TOWN OF | 4,895 | 3 |
| EAST SPENCER, TOWN OF | 1,550 | 0 |
| FAITH, TOWN OF | 1,316 | 3 |
| CLEVELAND, TOWN OF | 872 | 0 |
| COMMODORE PENINSULA WTR SYSTEM | 610 | 0 |
| NORTHEAST ROWAN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM | 471 | 2 |
| EDGEWOOD S/D | 259 | 0 |
| TANGLEWOOD S/D | 231 | 0 |
| COX MILL | 198 | 0 |
| CEDAR GLENN MHP INC | 198 | 2 |
| POPLAR TRAILS WATER SYSTEM | 180 | 0 |
| FAIRFIELD ACRES | 158 | 0 |
| PRIVATE ACRES S/D | 124 | 0 |
| OAKLAND S/D | 119 | 0 |
| HAPPY HOLLOW S/D | 112 | 0 |
| MOUNTAIN CREEK SHORES S/D | 102 | 0 |
| HICKORY LANE MHP | 83 | 2 |
| GREEN ACRES MHP | 71 | 4 |
| DOGWOOD ESTATES | 64 | 0 |
| BARGER PARK | 58 | 0 |
| SAFRIT ANNEX WATER SYSTEM | 51 | 0 |
TRI Facilities (26)
Superfund Sites (1)
| Site Name | Status | HRS Score |
|---|---|---|
| National Starch & Chemical Corp. | NPL Site | 46.51 |
Cities in Rowan (7)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Rowan, North Carolina? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Rowan? ▼
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What does this county environmental profile show?
This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.