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Lead Contamination

Lead in North Carolina Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

417
Cities Tested
7
Exceeds Limit
2%
% Exceeds Limit
1.2 ppb
State Avg
▼ 0% vs national
vs National
362
Health Violations
Analysis

Lead in North Carolina: what the data shows

North Carolina has 417 cities with lead monitoring data, with very few cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 1.2 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. 7 cities exceed the 15 ppb action level. High lead levels in tap water typically indicate aging infrastructure — lead service lines, lead solder in older plumbing, or lead-containing brass fixtures. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

North Carolina
2%
7 of 417 cities
← = Exactly at national rate
National avg
2%
378 of 15681 cities
City Map

Lead data across North Carolina

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in North Carolina

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

  1. 1 F Ellerbe 37.0 ppb Yes 2K
  2. 2 C Faith 26.0 ppb Yes 1K
  3. 3 B Fleetwood 24.0 ppb Yes 519
  4. 4 F Wallace 18.2 ppb Yes 6K
  5. 5 C Rocky Mount 18.0 ppb Yes 56K
  6. 6 F Franklin 17.0 ppb Yes 11K
  7. 7 F Princeton 16.0 ppb Yes 1K
  8. 8 C Maxton 13.0 ppb 68K
  9. 9 C Foxfire Village 12.8 ppb 2K
  10. 10 B Wade 12.0 ppb 780
All Cities

All North Carolina cities ranked by lead level

# City Level Level Exceeds? Violations Grade
1 Ellerbe 37.0 ppb
Yes 13
F
2 Faith 26.0 ppb
Yes 1
C
3 Fleetwood 24.0 ppb
Yes 1
B
4 Wallace 18.2 ppb
Yes 4
F
5 Rocky Mount 18.0 ppb
Yes 17
C
6 Franklin 17.0 ppb
Yes 14
F
7 Princeton 16.0 ppb
Yes 13
F
8 Maxton 13.0 ppb
No 12
C
9 Foxfire Village 12.8 ppb
No 29
C
10 Wade 12.0 ppb
No 0
B
11 Brown Summit 12.0 ppb
No 0
B
12 Lake Lure 11.0 ppb
No 17
F
13 Saluda 11.0 ppb
No 0
B
14 Franklinville 11.0 ppb
No 45
B-
15 Bayboro 10.0 ppb
No 14
B-
16 Roaring Gap 9.6 ppb
No 7
C+
17 Oxford 8.7 ppb
No 7
B-
18 Whiteville 8.4 ppb
No 2
C
19 Linville 7.0 ppb
No 11
F
20 Warsaw 7.0 ppb
No 6
B
21 Pink Hill 7.0 ppb
No 4
B+
22 Walnut Cove 6.2 ppb
No 10
D
23 White Lake 6.0 ppb
No 1
B
24 Rosman 6.0 ppb
No 12
F
25 East Arcadia 6.0 ppb
No 5
C
26 Spring Hope 5.8 ppb
No 3
C
27 Carolina Beach 5.7 ppb
No 5
D
28 Marble 5.5 ppb
No 4
C+
29 Edenton 5.0 ppb
No 31
D+
30 Kure Beach 5.0 ppb
No 4
B+
31 Harkers Island 5.0 ppb
No 5
A-
32 Richlands 5.0 ppb
No 3
B+
33 Beech Mountain 5.0 ppb
No 9
B+
34 Chadbourn 5.0 ppb
No 1
B+
35 Oriental 5.0 ppb
No 0
A-
36 Hobgood 4.9 ppb
No 2
B+
37 Hendersonville 4.7 ppb
No 36
F
38 Carthage 4.7 ppb
No 68
D+
39 Climax 4.1 ppb
No 1
C-
40 Camp Lejeune 4.0 ppb
No 10
A-
41 Highlands 4.0 ppb
No 25
F
42 Beaufort 4.0 ppb
No 34
F
43 Hampstead 4.0 ppb
No 24
C
44 Emerald Isle 4.0 ppb
No 7
B
45 Lake Waccamaw 4.0 ppb
No 4
B
46 Teachey 4.0 ppb
No 1
B
47 Micro 4.0 ppb
No 15
F
48 Fletcher 3.9 ppb
No 2
B-
49 Cleveland 3.8 ppb
No 2
D+
50 Vanceboro 3.4 ppb
No 0
A-
51 King 3.4 ppb
No 12
B+
52 Fremont 3.3 ppb
No 3
B
53 Fair Bluff 3.1 ppb
No 2
B+
54 Maple 3.0 ppb
No 4
B+
55 Butner 3.0 ppb
No 25
B
56 Chinquapin 3.0 ppb
No 0
A
57 Four Oaks 3.0 ppb
No 11
B
58 Swepsonville 3.0 ppb
No 10
A-
59 Jefferson 3.0 ppb
No 33
D
60 Brunswick 3.0 ppb
No 1
B+
61 Boone 2.5 ppb
No 33
F
62 Gaston 2.5 ppb
No 21
C
63 Charlotte 2.3 ppb
No 47
F
64 Kill Devil Hill 2.3 ppb
No 1
A-
65 Cherokee 2.2 ppb
No 6
B-
66 Stanley 1.9 ppb
No 6
F
67 Kernersville 1.5 ppb
No 13
C-
68 Rutherfordton 1.4 ppb
No 7
B-
69 Pine Level 1.4 ppb
No 8
D+
70 Maine (T) 1.0 ppb
No 7
C
71 Carrboro 0.7 ppb
No 0
A
72 Gastonia 0.1 ppb
No 102
F
73 Raleigh 0.0 ppb
No 241
F
74 Clemmons 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
75 Durham 0.0 ppb
No 94
F
76 Greensboro 0.0 ppb
No 29
F
77 Fayetteville 0.0 ppb
No 392
F
78 Cary 0.0 ppb
No 9
F
79 Wilmington 0.0 ppb
No 22
F
80 Jacksonville 0.0 ppb
No 22
F
81 Monroe 0.0 ppb
No 10
B-
82 Leland 0.0 ppb
No 11
C
83 Lexington 0.0 ppb
No 14
B-
84 Asheville 0.0 ppb
No 12
F
85 Concord 0.0 ppb
No 37
F
86 Greenville 0.0 ppb
No 7
C-
87 Lillington 0.0 ppb
No 4
B-
88 High Point 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
89 Goldsboro 0.0 ppb
No 11
F
90 Apex 0.0 ppb
No 40
F
91 Wilson Mills 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
92 Hickory 0.0 ppb
No 11
F
93 New Bern 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
94 Mooresville 0.0 ppb
No 22
F
95 Burlington 0.0 ppb
No 33
F
96 Statesville 0.0 ppb
No 37
F
97 Wilson 0.0 ppb
No 7
C+
98 Lawndale 0.0 ppb
No 1
B-
99 Raeford 0.0 ppb
No 16
F
100 Kannapolis 0.0 ppb
No 16
C-
101 Holly Springs 0.0 ppb
No 8
C-
102 Sanford 0.0 ppb
No 31
F
103 Clayton 0.0 ppb
No 50
D
104 Denver 0.0 ppb
No 10
C-
105 Salisbury 0.0 ppb
No 27
F
106 Fuquay-Varina 0.0 ppb
No 34
F
107 Granite Falls 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
108 Kinston 0.0 ppb
No 4
C-
109 Elizabeth City 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
110 Morganton 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
111 Mebane 0.0 ppb
No 10
B+
112 Mocksville 0.0 ppb
No 19
C
113 Smithfield 0.0 ppb
No 9
C+
114 Burgaw 0.0 ppb
No 21
F
115 Roanoke Rapids 0.0 ppb
No 17
B
116 Washington 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
117 Rockingham 0.0 ppb
No 15
C
118 Pinehurst 0.0 ppb
No 5
C-
119 Franklinton 0.0 ppb
No 40
F
120 Asheboro 0.0 ppb
No 8
F
121 Eden 0.0 ppb
No 10
C
122 Thomasville 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
123 Oak Island 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
124 Tarboro 0.0 ppb
No 49
F
125 Pinebluff 0.0 ppb
No 32
D+
126 Newport 0.0 ppb
No 31
F
127 Waynesville 0.0 ppb
No 5
C+
128 Lumberton 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
129 Hudson 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
130 Shelby 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
131 Laurinburg 0.0 ppb
No 0
C
132 Harrisburg 0.0 ppb
No 28
F
133 Clinton 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
134 Forest City 0.0 ppb
No 1
B-
135 Newton 0.0 ppb
No 15
F
136 Hiddenite 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
137 Elizabethtown 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
138 Weaverville 0.0 ppb
No 35
F
139 Belmont 0.0 ppb
No 6
D+
140 Kenansville 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
141 Albemarle 0.0 ppb
No 46
C-
142 Mt Holly 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
143 Henderson 0.0 ppb
No 25
F
144 Cherry Point 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
145 Snow Hill 0.0 ppb
No 2
C+
146 Conover 0.0 ppb
No 6
F
147 Brevard 0.0 ppb
No 26
F
148 Lincolnton 0.0 ppb
No 0
D+
149 Cullowhee 0.0 ppb
No 13
D
150 Morehead City 0.0 ppb
No 17
C
151 Taylorsville 0.0 ppb
No 7
B
152 Mt Gilead 0.0 ppb
No 18
F
153 Reidsville 0.0 ppb
No 36
F
154 N Wilkesboro 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
155 Windsor 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
156 Havelock 0.0 ppb
No 20
B+
157 Kings Mountain 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
158 Garner 0.0 ppb
No 89
F
159 Lilesville 0.0 ppb
No 16
D
160 Hertford 0.0 ppb
No 7
D+
161 Nashville 0.0 ppb
No 36
F
162 Deep Run 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
163 Hillsborough 0.0 ppb
No 9
C-
164 Elon 0.0 ppb
No 7
D+
165 Valdese 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
166 Archdale 0.0 ppb
No 30
D+
167 Spring Lake 0.0 ppb
No 25
D+
168 Aberdeen 0.0 ppb
No 54
F
169 Williamston 0.0 ppb
No 4
C-
170 Miller Creek 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
171 Pittsboro 0.0 ppb
No 110
F
172 Erwin 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
173 Black Mountain 0.0 ppb
No 5
D+
174 Warrenton 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
175 Bridgeton 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
176 Marion 0.0 ppb
No 20
F
177 Gatesville 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
178 China Grove 0.0 ppb
No 11
F
179 Bellarthur 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
180 Denton 0.0 ppb
No 22
C-
181 Roxboro 0.0 ppb
No 9
A-
182 Mount Airy 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
183 Corolla 0.0 ppb
No 7
B
184 Hamlet 0.0 ppb
No 20
F
185 Winterville 0.0 ppb
No 1
B-
186 Knightdale 0.0 ppb
No 208
D
187 Angier 0.0 ppb
No 4
B-
188 Dallas 0.0 ppb
No 34
F
189 Maggie Valley 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
190 Locust 0.0 ppb
No 24
B
191 Troutman 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
192 Surf City 0.0 ppb
No 22
C+
193 Camden 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
194 Gibsonville 0.0 ppb
No 12
F
195 Edward 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
196 Efland 0.0 ppb
No 10
F
197 Trenton 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
198 Farmville 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
199 Winton 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
200 Banner Elk 0.0 ppb
No 101
D
201 Cashiers 0.0 ppb
No 74
F
202 Siler City 0.0 ppb
No 29
B
203 Hays 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
204 Canton 0.0 ppb
No 8
C+
205 Ocean Isle Beach 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
206 Eastover 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
207 Hildebran 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
208 Wake Forest 0.0 ppb
No 48
F
209 Roper 0.0 ppb
No 25
C+
210 Selma 0.0 ppb
No 7
C-
211 Seymour Johnson 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
212 Jamestown 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
213 Cherryville 0.0 ppb
No 7
C
214 Atlantic Beach 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
215 Ayden 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
216 Holden Beach 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
217 Topsail Beach 0.0 ppb
No 9
C
218 Bessemer City 0.0 ppb
No 17
D
219 Jackson 0.0 ppb
No 4
D
220 Spruce Pine 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
221 Glen Alpine 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
222 Ahoskie 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
223 Sherrills Ford 0.0 ppb
No 3
C+
224 Tryon 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
225 Wadesboro 0.0 ppb
No 24
B-
226 Maiden 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
227 Murphy 0.0 ppb
No 6
D
228 Buxton 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
229 Troy 0.0 ppb
No 16
D+
230 Norwood 0.0 ppb
No 32
D
231 Wrightsville Beach 0.0 ppb
No 6
B
232 Swanquarter 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
233 Longview 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
234 Randleman 0.0 ppb
No 26
F
235 Louisburg 0.0 ppb
No 20
C-
236 Tabor City 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
237 Mars Hill 0.0 ppb
No 19
B
238 Vass 0.0 ppb
No 16
C
239 Boiling Springs 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
240 Burnsville 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
241 Bryson City 0.0 ppb
No 13
D+
242 Richfield 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
243 Ranlo 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
244 Red Springs 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
245 Wingate 0.0 ppb
No 22
B-
246 Chapel Hill 0.0 ppb
No 66
F
247 Cameron 0.0 ppb
No 1
D
248 Benson 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
249 Mount Olive 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
250 Yadkinville 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
251 Oak Ridge 0.0 ppb
No 54
D
252 Elkin 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
253 Ellenboro 0.0 ppb
No 5
C-
254 Whispering Pines 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
255 Columbia 0.0 ppb
No 9
B
256 Lake Gaston 0.0 ppb
No 13
B-
257 Lowell 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
258 Madison 0.0 ppb
No 19
F
259 Willow Springs 0.0 ppb
No 6
D
260 Dunn 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
261 Murfreesboro 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
262 Wilkesboro 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
263 Aquadale 0.0 ppb
No 26
B+
264 Stokesdale 0.0 ppb
No 14
D
265 Stokes 0.0 ppb
No 4
C+
266 Mt Airy 0.0 ppb
No 16
D
267 Moravian Falls 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
268 Pembroke 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
269 Andrews 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
270 Drexel 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
271 Bald Head Island 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
272 Clyde 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
273 Plymouth 0.0 ppb
No 8
B+
274 Bladenboro 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
275 Oakboro 0.0 ppb
No 18
B+
276 Lagrange 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
277 Marshville 0.0 ppb
No 14
B+
278 Nags Head 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
279 Robbinsville 0.0 ppb
No 7
C+
280 Grifton 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
281 Summerfield 0.0 ppb
No 17
F
282 Claremont 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
283 Coats 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
284 River Bend 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
285 Fairmont 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
286 Seagrove 0.0 ppb
No 15
B
287 Scotland Neck 0.0 ppb
No 44
B-
288 New London 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
289 Biscoe 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
290 Liberty 0.0 ppb
No 11
C
291 Dobson 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
292 Haw River 0.0 ppb
No 12
A-
293 Manteo 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
294 Delco 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
295 Columbus 0.0 ppb
No 2
D
296 Hayesville 0.0 ppb
No 5
D
297 Chocowinity 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
298 Saint Pauls 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
299 Littleton 0.0 ppb
No 17
F
300 Mayodan 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
301 Green Level 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
302 Jonesville 0.0 ppb
No 10
B+
303 Blowing Rock 0.0 ppb
No 7
C
304 Kenly 0.0 ppb
No 18
C
305 Lake Junaluska 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
306 Yanceyville 0.0 ppb
No 33
D
307 Garysburg 0.0 ppb
No 11
C+
308 East Bend 0.0 ppb
No 28
D+
309 Linden 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
310 Aulander 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
311 Rodanthe 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
312 Rutherford Coll 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
313 Mcadenville 0.0 ppb
No 1
B-
314 Boonville 0.0 ppb
No 2
C+
315 West Jefferson 0.0 ppb
No 8
D+
316 Pilot Mtn 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
317 Badin 0.0 ppb
No 8
A-
318 Belhaven 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
319 Sharpsburg 0.0 ppb
No 9
B+
320 Sparta 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
321 Rose Hill 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
322 Ramseur 0.0 ppb
No 38
D+
323 Stedman 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
324 Black Creek 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
325 Broadway 0.0 ppb
No 13
A-
326 Enfield 0.0 ppb
No 45
B
327 Old Fort 0.0 ppb
No 2
C
328 Wendell 0.0 ppb
No 70
D
329 Robbins 0.0 ppb
No 20
F
330 Mt Pleasant 0.0 ppb
No 19
D
331 Middlesex 0.0 ppb
No 12
F
332 Dortches 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
333 Zebulon 0.0 ppb
No 35
D
334 Harrells 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
335 Bethel 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
336 Salemburg 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
337 Cape Carteret 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
338 Stoneville 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
339 East Spencer 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
340 Wentworth 0.0 ppb
No 15
C+
341 Elm City 0.0 ppb
No 14
D
342 Robersonville 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
343 Roseboro 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
344 Faison 0.0 ppb
No 1
B-
345 Marshall 0.0 ppb
No 8
B
346 Kittrell 0.0 ppb
No 1
B-
347 Saxapahaw 0.0 ppb
No 7
C+
348 Stantonsburg 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
349 Greenevers 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
350 Weldon 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
351 Rowland 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
352 Beulaville 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
353 Ansonville 0.0 ppb
No 16
B
354 Lenoir 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
355 Clarkton 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
356 York 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
357 Pinetops 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
358 Goldston 0.0 ppb
No 45
C
359 Catawba 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
360 Garland 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
361 Stanfield 0.0 ppb
No 63
C-
362 Nebo 0.0 ppb
No 8
F
363 Norlina 0.0 ppb
No 2
C+
364 Maysville 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
365 Conetoe 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
366 Rich Square 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
367 Newland 0.0 ppb
No 4
C+
368 Maple Hill 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
369 Magnolia 0.0 ppb
No 4
B-
370 Candor 0.0 ppb
No 7
D
371 Wagram 0.0 ppb
No 4
C+
372 Bostic 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
373 Fontana 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
374 Ridgecrest 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
375 Hot Springs 0.0 ppb
No 3
C+
376 Ronda 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
377 Rhodhiss 0.0 ppb
No 6
C+
378 Star 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
379 Newton Grove 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
380 Polkton 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
381 Taylortown 0.0 ppb
No 7
B+
382 Parkton 0.0 ppb
No 0
B-
383 Ocracoke 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
384 Graham 0.0 ppb
No 11
D
385 Pikeville 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
386 Conway 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
387 Lucama 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
388 Seaboard 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
389 Whitakers 0.0 ppb
No 12
B+
390 Pollocksville 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
391 Sapphire 0.0 ppb
No 1
C-
392 Harrellsville 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
393 Aurora 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
394 Grover 0.0 ppb
No 15
B+
395 Bent Creek 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
396 Montreat 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
397 Huntersville 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
398 Peachland 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
399 Ogden 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
400 Woodland 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
401 High Shoals 0.0 ppb
No 8
A-
402 Bakersville 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
403 Falcon 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
404 West Columbia 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
405 Ferguson 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
406 Whitsett 0.0 ppb
No 6
D+
407 Bolton 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
408 Bailey 0.0 ppb
No 1
C-
409 Calypso 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
410 Micaville 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
411 Waxham 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
412 Dublin 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
413 Gibson 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
414 Whittier 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
415 Stovall 0.0 ppb
No 30
C
416 Candler 0.0 ppb
No 6
C+
417 Morven 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in North Carolina

Is lead in North Carolina tap water a concern?

Yes — 7 of 417 cities with lead data exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average is 1.2 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from North Carolina tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which North Carolina cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in North Carolina are: Ellerbe (37.0 ppb), Faith (26.0 ppb), Fleetwood (24.0 ppb), Wallace (18.2 ppb), Rocky Mount (18.0 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

More contaminants

Other contaminants in North Carolina

PFAS in North Carolina
Ranked by compounds detected
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Copper in North Carolina
Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)
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HAA5 in North Carolina
Ranked by average concentration (µg/L)
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Chromium-6 in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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Arsenic in North Carolina
Ranked by violation count
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Nitrate in North Carolina
Ranked by violation count
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Strontium in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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1,4-Dioxane in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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Manganese in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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Vanadium in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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Chlorate in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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Molybdenum in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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Cobalt in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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Lithium in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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NDMA in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (ng/L)
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Perchlorate in North Carolina
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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All states

Lead in drinking water by state

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaQCRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
← Lead contamination overview Explore North Carolina water quality → National Lead map →