Arsenic Contamination

Arsenic in North Carolina Drinking Water

Ranked by arsenic violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

218

Cities Tested

218

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

9.9 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

345

Health Violations

Analysis

Arsenic in North Carolina: what the data shows

North Carolina has 218 cities with arsenic-related violations on record. Arsenic contamination is a federal MCL violation at levels above 10 µg/L (10 ppb). The state has 218 cities with at least one arsenic violation. Arsenic enters drinking water primarily through erosion of natural deposits, particularly in western states with arsenite-bearing geology. Industrial sources include mining runoff, glass manufacturing, and semiconductor production. Groundwater systems are significantly more likely to have arsenic issues than surface water systems. Long-term arsenic exposure above the MCL increases the risk of bladder, lung, and skin cancer, as well as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Reverse osmosis and specialized arsenic-removal media are the most effective point-of-use treatment options.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 µg/L EPA MCL

North Carolina

100%

218 of 218 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

5270 of 5270 cities

City Map

Arsenic data across North Carolina

Each dot is a city with arsenic violation data. Cities with at least one arsenic-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by arsenic level in North Carolina

Highest Arsenic levels (violations)

All Cities

All North Carolina cities ranked by arsenic level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Gastonia	240 violations	Yes	102	F
2	Durham	114 violations	Yes	94	F
3	Concord	87 violations	Yes	37	F
4	Raleigh	85 violations	Yes	241	F
5	Newton	58 violations	Yes	15	F
6	Statesville	57 violations	Yes	37	F
7	Hickory	56 violations	Yes	11	F
8	Conover	55 violations	Yes	6	F
9	Charlotte	46 violations	Yes	47	F
10	Dallas	38 violations	Yes	34	F
11	Mooresville	34 violations	Yes	22	F
12	Salisbury	34 violations	Yes	27	F
13	Boone	34 violations	Yes	33	F
14	Stanley	34 violations	Yes	6	F
15	Greensboro	33 violations	Yes	29	F
16	Harrisburg	30 violations	Yes	28	F
17	Zebulon	28 violations	Yes	35	D
18	Reidsville	24 violations	Yes	36	F
19	Newport	22 violations	Yes	31	F
20	Highlands	22 violations	Yes	25	F
21	Banner Elk	22 violations	Yes	101	D
22	Archdale	21 violations	Yes	30	D+
23	Weaverville	21 violations	Yes	35	F
24	Apex	18 violations	Yes	40	F
25	China Grove	17 violations	Yes	11	F
26	Sherrills Ford	17 violations	Yes	3	C+
27	Cashiers	17 violations	Yes	74	F
28	Fuquay-Varina	16 violations	Yes	34	F
29	Cullowhee	16 violations	Yes	13	D
30	Fayetteville	15 violations	Yes	392	F
31	Franklin	15 violations	Yes	14	F
32	Kernersville	14 violations	Yes	13	C-
33	Raeford	13 violations	Yes	16	F
34	Sanford	13 violations	Yes	31	F
35	Forest City	13 violations	Yes	1	B-
36	Belmont	13 violations	Yes	6	D+
37	Brevard	13 violations	Yes	26	F
38	Canton	13 violations	Yes	8	C+
39	Bryson City	13 violations	Yes	13	D+
40	Robbinsville	13 violations	Yes	7	C+
41	Randleman	12 violations	Yes	26	F
42	West Jefferson	12 violations	Yes	8	D+
43	Asheville	11 violations	Yes	12	F
44	Aberdeen	11 violations	Yes	54	F
45	Clayton	10 violations	Yes	50	D
46	Asheboro	10 violations	Yes	8	F
47	Lincolnton	10 violations	Yes	0	D+
48	Henderson	10 violations	Yes	25	F
49	Marion	10 violations	Yes	20	F
50	Elkin	10 violations	Yes	1	B+
51	Madison	10 violations	Yes	19	F
52	Holly Springs	9 violations	Yes	8	C-
53	Black Mountain	9 violations	Yes	5	D+
54	Bessemer City	9 violations	Yes	17	D
55	Murphy	9 violations	Yes	6	D
56	Fletcher	9 violations	Yes	2	B-
57	Wilmington	8 violations	Yes	22	F
58	Hendersonville	8 violations	Yes	36	F
59	Gibsonville	8 violations	Yes	12	F
60	Spruce Pine	8 violations	Yes	3	B-
61	Maiden	8 violations	Yes	3	B
62	Linville	8 violations	Yes	11	F
63	Mars Hill	8 violations	Yes	19	B
64	Columbus	8 violations	Yes	2	D
65	Hayesville	8 violations	Yes	5	D
66	Mcadenville	8 violations	Yes	1	B-
67	Hot Springs	8 violations	Yes	3	C+
68	East Arcadia	8 violations	Yes	5	C
69	Greenville	7 violations	Yes	7	C-
70	Goldsboro	7 violations	Yes	11	F
71	Mocksville	7 violations	Yes	19	C
72	Elon	7 violations	Yes	7	D+
73	Carthage	7 violations	Yes	68	D+
74	Mount Airy	7 violations	Yes	0	B
75	Louisburg	7 violations	Yes	20	C-
76	Dobson	7 violations	Yes	1	B
77	Blowing Rock	7 violations	Yes	7	C
78	Lenoir	7 violations	Yes	2	B-
79	Summerfield	7 violations	Yes	17	F
80	Kannapolis	6 violations	Yes	16	C-
81	Waynesville	6 violations	Yes	5	C+
82	Spring Lake	6 violations	Yes	25	D+
83	Morehead City	6 violations	Yes	17	C
84	Longview	6 violations	Yes	0	A-
85	Kure Beach	6 violations	Yes	4	B+
86	Stokesdale	6 violations	Yes	14	D
87	Vass	6 violations	Yes	16	C
88	Mt Pleasant	6 violations	Yes	19	D
89	Saxapahaw	6 violations	Yes	7	C+
90	Cleveland	6 violations	Yes	2	D+
91	Nebo	6 violations	Yes	8	F
92	Pinehurst	5 violations	Yes	5	C-
93	Nashville	5 violations	Yes	36	F
94	Corolla	5 violations	Yes	7	B
95	Taylorsville	5 violations	Yes	7	B
96	Littleton	5 violations	Yes	17	F
97	Spring Hope	5 violations	Yes	3	C
98	Kittrell	5 violations	Yes	1	B-
99	Candor	5 violations	Yes	7	D
100	Franklinton	4 violations	Yes	40	F
101	Windsor	4 violations	Yes	7	A-
102	Mt Gilead	4 violations	Yes	18	F
103	Oxford	4 violations	Yes	7	B-
104	Selma	4 violations	Yes	7	C-
105	Tryon	4 violations	Yes	3	B
106	Beaufort	4 violations	Yes	34	F
107	Norwood	4 violations	Yes	32	D
108	Burnsville	4 violations	Yes	5	B
109	Troy	4 violations	Yes	16	D+
110	Tabor City	4 violations	Yes	0	B
111	Walnut Cove	4 violations	Yes	10	D
112	Yanceyville	4 violations	Yes	33	D
113	East Bend	4 violations	Yes	28	D+
114	Lake Lure	4 violations	Yes	17	F
115	Pink Hill	4 violations	Yes	4	B+
116	High Shoals	4 violations	Yes	8	A-
117	Bakersville	4 violations	Yes	3	B-
118	Rosman	4 violations	Yes	12	F
119	Cameron	4 violations	Yes	1	D
120	Burlington	3 violations	Yes	33	F
121	Denver	3 violations	Yes	10	C-
122	Smithfield	3 violations	Yes	9	C+
123	Hillsborough	3 violations	Yes	9	C-
124	Surf City	3 violations	Yes	22	C+
125	Jackson	3 violations	Yes	4	D
126	White Lake	3 violations	Yes	1	B
127	Andrews	3 violations	Yes	1	B
128	Robbins	3 violations	Yes	20	F
129	Marshall	3 violations	Yes	8	B
130	Weldon	3 violations	Yes	7	A-
131	Micaville	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
132	Brunswick	3 violations	Yes	1	B+
133	Graham	3 violations	Yes	11	D
134	Clemmons	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
135	Lillington	2 violations	Yes	4	B-
136	Wilson Mills	2 violations	Yes	3	B-
137	Leland	2 violations	Yes	11	C
138	Burgaw	2 violations	Yes	21	F
139	Thomasville	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
140	Laurinburg	2 violations	Yes	0	C
141	Hiddenite	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
142	Granite Falls	2 violations	Yes	4	B+
143	Elizabethtown	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
144	Lexington	2 violations	Yes	14	B-
145	Albemarle	2 violations	Yes	46	C-
146	Butner	2 violations	Yes	25	B
147	Rutherfordton	2 violations	Yes	7	B-
148	Snow Hill	2 violations	Yes	2	C+
149	Whiteville	2 violations	Yes	2	C
150	Kings Mountain	2 violations	Yes	5	B
151	N Wilkesboro	2 violations	Yes	4	B+
152	Denton	2 violations	Yes	22	C-
153	Hamlet	2 violations	Yes	20	F
154	Winterville	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
155	Maggie Valley	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
156	Troutman	2 violations	Yes	3	B-
157	Siler City	2 violations	Yes	29	B
158	Cherryville	2 violations	Yes	7	C
159	Pittsboro	2 violations	Yes	110	F
160	Ahoskie	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
161	Wallace	2 violations	Yes	4	F
162	Emerald Isle	2 violations	Yes	7	B
163	Yadkinville	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
164	Columbia	2 violations	Yes	9	B
165	Bald Head Island	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
166	River Bend	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
167	Scotland Neck	2 violations	Yes	44	B-
168	Liberty	2 violations	Yes	11	C
169	Wake Forest	2 violations	Yes	48	F
170	Beech Mountain	2 violations	Yes	9	B+
171	Saint Pauls	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
172	Jonesville	2 violations	Yes	10	B+
173	Saluda	2 violations	Yes	0	B
174	Ramseur	2 violations	Yes	38	D+
175	Foxfire Village	2 violations	Yes	29	C
176	Enfield	2 violations	Yes	45	B
177	Stedman	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
178	Harrells	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
179	Stantonsburg	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
180	Beulaville	2 violations	Yes	0	A
181	Faith	2 violations	Yes	1	C
182	Maysville	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
183	Rich Square	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
184	Marble	2 violations	Yes	4	C+
185	Wagram	2 violations	Yes	4	C+
186	Bostic	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
187	Fontana	2 violations	Yes	3	A
188	Garland	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
189	Parkton	2 violations	Yes	0	B-
190	Pollocksville	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
191	Harrellsville	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
192	Bent Creek	2 violations	Yes	0	A
193	Falcon	2 violations	Yes	0	B+
194	Waxham	2 violations	Yes	2	A
195	Gibson	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
196	Huntersville	2 violations	Yes	1	A
197	Micro	2 violations	Yes	15	F
198	Whittier	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
199	Fleetwood	2 violations	Yes	1	B
200	Cary	1 violations	Yes	9	F
201	Jacksonville	1 violations	Yes	22	F
202	Eden	1 violations	Yes	10	C
203	Morganton	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
204	Mebane	1 violations	Yes	10	B+
205	Kenansville	1 violations	Yes	2	B
206	Havelock	1 violations	Yes	20	B+
207	Locust	1 violations	Yes	24	B
208	Efland	1 violations	Yes	10	F
209	Wadesboro	1 violations	Yes	24	B-
210	Nags Head	1 violations	Yes	0	A+
211	Pine Level	1 violations	Yes	8	D+
212	Jefferson	1 violations	Yes	33	D
213	Belhaven	1 violations	Yes	0	A
214	Black Creek	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
215	Old Fort	1 violations	Yes	2	C
216	Ogden	1 violations	Yes	0	A
217	Brown Summit	1 violations	Yes	0	B
218	Bailey	1 violations	Yes	1	C-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about arsenic in North Carolina

Is arsenic in North Carolina tap water a concern?

Yes — 218 cities in North Carolina have arsenic-related violations on record. The EPA MCL for arsenic is 10 µg/L. Even at levels below the MCL, long-term arsenic exposure has been linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease.

How can I remove arsenic from my drinking water in North Carolina?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing arsenic, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Specialized arsenic-removal media (such as iron-based adsorption filters) are also highly effective. Standard carbon filters and pitcher filters do NOT effectively remove arsenic. If your water comes from a private well, have it tested for arsenic.

Where does arsenic in North Carolina water come from?

Arsenic enters drinking water primarily through natural erosion of arsenic-bearing rock formations. It is most common in groundwater systems in the western United States, parts of the Midwest, and New England. Industrial sources include mining, smelting, and agricultural pesticide residues. Groundwater sources are far more likely to contain arsenic than surface water.

More contaminants