Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in North Carolina Drinking Water

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

273

Cities Tested

273

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

13.0 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

345

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in North Carolina: what the data shows

North Carolina has 273 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 273 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

North Carolina

100%

273 of 273 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

7727 of 7727 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across North Carolina

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

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in North Carolina

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All North Carolina cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Gastonia	343 violations	Yes	102	F
2	Raleigh	212 violations	Yes	241	F
3	Durham	154 violations	Yes	94	F
4	Concord	128 violations	Yes	37	F
5	Greensboro	81 violations	Yes	29	F
6	Statesville	68 violations	Yes	37	F
7	Reidsville	65 violations	Yes	36	F
8	Hickory	64 violations	Yes	11	F
9	Charlotte	60 violations	Yes	47	F
10	Salisbury	59 violations	Yes	27	F
11	Newton	58 violations	Yes	15	F
12	Banner Elk	57 violations	Yes	101	D
13	Conover	53 violations	Yes	6	F
14	Aberdeen	45 violations	Yes	54	F
15	Dallas	43 violations	Yes	34	F
16	Kernersville	40 violations	Yes	13	C-
17	Mooresville	39 violations	Yes	22	F
18	Harrisburg	39 violations	Yes	28	F
19	Zebulon	39 violations	Yes	35	D
20	Franklin	38 violations	Yes	14	F
21	China Grove	35 violations	Yes	11	F
22	Stanley	34 violations	Yes	6	F
23	Boone	30 violations	Yes	33	F
24	Fayetteville	29 violations	Yes	392	F
25	Apex	29 violations	Yes	40	F
26	Fuquay-Varina	29 violations	Yes	34	F
27	Nashville	29 violations	Yes	36	F
28	West Jefferson	28 violations	Yes	8	D+
29	Burlington	26 violations	Yes	33	F
30	Highlands	26 violations	Yes	25	F
31	Cullowhee	25 violations	Yes	13	D
32	Weaverville	24 violations	Yes	35	F
33	Cashiers	24 violations	Yes	74	F
34	Newport	22 violations	Yes	31	F
35	Archdale	21 violations	Yes	30	D+
36	Morehead City	21 violations	Yes	17	C
37	Farmville	21 violations	Yes	0	A-
38	Spring Lake	20 violations	Yes	25	D+
39	Brevard	20 violations	Yes	26	F
40	Randleman	19 violations	Yes	26	F
41	Sherrills Ford	19 violations	Yes	3	C+
42	Belmont	18 violations	Yes	6	D+
43	Henderson	18 violations	Yes	25	F
44	Wake Forest	18 violations	Yes	48	F
45	Madison	18 violations	Yes	19	F
46	Wilmington	17 violations	Yes	22	F
47	Black Mountain	17 violations	Yes	5	D+
48	Liberty	17 violations	Yes	11	C
49	Stokesdale	17 violations	Yes	14	D
50	Walnut Cove	17 violations	Yes	10	D
51	East Bend	17 violations	Yes	28	D+
52	Kinston	16 violations	Yes	4	C-
53	Cameron	16 violations	Yes	1	D
54	Clayton	15 violations	Yes	50	D
55	Hayesville	15 violations	Yes	5	D
56	Cleveland	15 violations	Yes	2	D+
57	Greenville	14 violations	Yes	7	C-
58	Hendersonville	14 violations	Yes	36	F
59	Kannapolis	14 violations	Yes	16	C-
60	Asheboro	14 violations	Yes	8	F
61	Marion	14 violations	Yes	20	F
62	Mars Hill	14 violations	Yes	19	B
63	Columbus	14 violations	Yes	2	D
64	Sparta	14 violations	Yes	2	B
65	Hot Springs	14 violations	Yes	3	C+
66	Graham	14 violations	Yes	11	D
67	Raeford	13 violations	Yes	16	F
68	Louisburg	13 violations	Yes	20	C-
69	Robbinsville	13 violations	Yes	7	C+
70	Vass	13 violations	Yes	16	C
71	Lake Lure	13 violations	Yes	17	F
72	Pinehurst	12 violations	Yes	5	C-
73	Elon	12 violations	Yes	7	D+
74	Linville	12 violations	Yes	11	F
75	Andrews	12 violations	Yes	1	B
76	Mt Pleasant	12 violations	Yes	19	D
77	Spring Hope	12 violations	Yes	3	C
78	Rosman	12 violations	Yes	12	F
79	Holly Springs	11 violations	Yes	8	C-
80	Forest City	11 violations	Yes	1	B-
81	Mcadenville	11 violations	Yes	1	B-
82	Saxapahaw	11 violations	Yes	7	C+
83	Nebo	11 violations	Yes	8	F
84	Asheville	10 violations	Yes	12	F
85	Lincolnton	10 violations	Yes	0	D+
86	Elkin	10 violations	Yes	1	B+
87	Newland	10 violations	Yes	4	C+
88	Rutherfordton	9 violations	Yes	7	B-
89	Hillsborough	9 violations	Yes	9	C-
90	Carthage	9 violations	Yes	68	D+
91	Troutman	9 violations	Yes	3	B-
92	Gibsonville	9 violations	Yes	12	F
93	Canton	9 violations	Yes	8	C+
94	Selma	9 violations	Yes	7	C-
95	Bessemer City	9 violations	Yes	17	D
96	Spruce Pine	9 violations	Yes	3	B-
97	Maiden	9 violations	Yes	3	B
98	Brown Summit	9 violations	Yes	0	B
99	Denver	8 violations	Yes	10	C-
100	Sanford	8 violations	Yes	31	F
101	Granite Falls	8 violations	Yes	4	B+
102	Pittsboro	8 violations	Yes	110	F
103	Wallace	8 violations	Yes	4	F
104	Longview	8 violations	Yes	0	A-
105	Bryson City	8 violations	Yes	13	D+
106	Yanceyville	8 violations	Yes	33	D
107	Lenoir	8 violations	Yes	2	B-
108	Taylortown	8 violations	Yes	7	B+
109	Fletcher	8 violations	Yes	2	B-
110	Summerfield	8 violations	Yes	17	F
111	East Arcadia	8 violations	Yes	5	C
112	Micro	8 violations	Yes	15	F
113	Jacksonville	7 violations	Yes	22	F
114	Rocky Mount	7 violations	Yes	17	C
115	Mount Airy	7 violations	Yes	0	B
116	Beaufort	7 violations	Yes	34	F
117	Murphy	7 violations	Yes	6	D
118	River Bend	7 violations	Yes	1	B+
119	Littleton	7 violations	Yes	17	F
120	Weldon	7 violations	Yes	7	A-
121	Clarkton	7 violations	Yes	0	A-
122	Parkton	7 violations	Yes	0	B-
123	Lawndale	7 violations	Yes	1	B-
124	Whittier	7 violations	Yes	1	B+
125	Mocksville	6 violations	Yes	19	C
126	Waynesville	6 violations	Yes	5	C+
127	Ahoskie	6 violations	Yes	1	A-
128	Murfreesboro	6 violations	Yes	4	B+
129	Tabor City	6 violations	Yes	0	B
130	Claremont	6 violations	Yes	0	B+
131	Jefferson	6 violations	Yes	33	D
132	Blowing Rock	6 violations	Yes	7	C
133	Faith	6 violations	Yes	1	C
134	High Shoals	6 violations	Yes	8	A-
135	Waxham	6 violations	Yes	2	A
136	Goldsboro	5 violations	Yes	11	F
137	Franklinton	5 violations	Yes	40	F
138	Cherokee	5 violations	Yes	6	B-
139	Corolla	5 violations	Yes	7	B
140	Surf City	5 violations	Yes	22	C+
141	Ranlo	5 violations	Yes	5	B
142	Pine Level	5 violations	Yes	8	D+
143	Beech Mountain	5 violations	Yes	9	B+
144	Chadbourn	5 violations	Yes	1	B+
145	Robbins	5 violations	Yes	20	F
146	Candor	5 violations	Yes	7	D
147	Bailey	5 violations	Yes	1	C-
148	Brunswick	5 violations	Yes	1	B+
149	Cary	4 violations	Yes	9	F
150	Lexington	4 violations	Yes	14	B-
151	Kenansville	4 violations	Yes	2	B
152	Snow Hill	4 violations	Yes	2	C+
153	Whiteville	4 violations	Yes	2	C
154	Oxford	4 violations	Yes	7	B-
155	Tryon	4 violations	Yes	3	B
156	Kure Beach	4 violations	Yes	4	B+
157	Norwood	4 violations	Yes	32	D
158	Burnsville	4 violations	Yes	5	B
159	Stokes	4 violations	Yes	4	C+
160	Dobson	4 violations	Yes	1	B
161	Chocowinity	4 violations	Yes	1	A-
162	Old Fort	4 violations	Yes	2	C
163	Stantonsburg	4 violations	Yes	1	A-
164	Greenevers	4 violations	Yes	2	A-
165	Kittrell	4 violations	Yes	1	B-
166	Pinetops	4 violations	Yes	1	B
167	Lucama	4 violations	Yes	0	B
168	Seaboard	4 violations	Yes	4	B+
169	Fair Bluff	4 violations	Yes	2	B+
170	Bakersville	4 violations	Yes	3	B-
171	Huntersville	4 violations	Yes	1	A
172	Fleetwood	4 violations	Yes	1	B
173	Clemmons	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
174	Oak Island	3 violations	Yes	1	B
175	Elizabethtown	3 violations	Yes	1	B+
176	Edenton	3 violations	Yes	31	D+
177	Mt Gilead	3 violations	Yes	18	F
178	Bellarthur	3 violations	Yes	3	B-
179	Winterville	3 violations	Yes	1	B-
180	Cherryville	3 violations	Yes	7	C
181	Yadkinville	3 violations	Yes	2	B-
182	Columbia	3 violations	Yes	9	B
183	Lake Gaston	3 violations	Yes	13	B-
184	Oakboro	3 violations	Yes	18	B+
185	Ramseur	3 violations	Yes	38	D+
186	Elm City	3 violations	Yes	14	D
187	Marble	3 violations	Yes	4	C+
188	Pink Hill	3 violations	Yes	4	B+
189	Pikeville	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
190	Conway	3 violations	Yes	2	A-
191	Pollocksville	3 violations	Yes	1	B+
192	Harrellsville	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
193	Bolton	3 violations	Yes	1	B
194	Micaville	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
195	High Point	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
196	Wilson Mills	2 violations	Yes	3	B-
197	Leland	2 violations	Yes	11	C
198	Burgaw	2 violations	Yes	21	F
199	Morganton	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
200	Lumberton	2 violations	Yes	2	B
201	King	2 violations	Yes	12	B+
202	Laurinburg	2 violations	Yes	0	C
203	Clinton	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
204	Hiddenite	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
205	Windsor	2 violations	Yes	7	A-
206	Hertford	2 violations	Yes	7	D+
207	N Wilkesboro	2 violations	Yes	4	B+
208	Denton	2 violations	Yes	22	C-
209	Roxboro	2 violations	Yes	9	A-
210	Maggie Valley	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
211	Jackson	2 violations	Yes	4	D
212	Red Springs	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
213	Topsail Beach	2 violations	Yes	9	C
214	Bald Head Island	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
215	Scotland Neck	2 violations	Yes	44	B-
216	Richlands	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
217	Saint Pauls	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
218	Ellenboro	2 violations	Yes	5	C-
219	Garysburg	2 violations	Yes	11	C+
220	Boonville	2 violations	Yes	2	C+
221	Saluda	2 violations	Yes	0	B
222	Enfield	2 violations	Yes	45	B
223	Faison	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
224	Beulaville	2 violations	Yes	0	A
225	Maysville	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
226	Rich Square	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
227	Wagram	2 violations	Yes	4	C+
228	Bostic	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
229	Garland	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
230	Newton Grove	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
231	Montreat	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
232	Falcon	2 violations	Yes	0	B+
233	Calypso	2 violations	Yes	1	B
234	Lillington	1 violations	Yes	4	B-
235	Rockingham	1 violations	Yes	15	C
236	Eden	1 violations	Yes	10	C
237	Pinebluff	1 violations	Yes	32	D+
238	Mebane	1 violations	Yes	10	B+
239	Albemarle	1 violations	Yes	46	C-
240	Cherry Point	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
241	Roanoke Rapids	1 violations	Yes	17	B
242	Deep Run	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
243	Locust	1 violations	Yes	24	B
244	Efland	1 violations	Yes	10	F
245	Trenton	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
246	Siler City	1 violations	Yes	29	B
247	Williamston	1 violations	Yes	4	C-
248	Atlantic Beach	1 violations	Yes	5	B+
249	Bridgeton	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
250	Wadesboro	1 violations	Yes	24	B-
251	Boiling Springs	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
252	Plymouth	1 violations	Yes	8	B+
253	Lagrange	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
254	Warsaw	1 violations	Yes	6	B
255	Maxton	1 violations	Yes	12	C
256	Mayodan	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
257	Rodanthe	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
258	Linden	1 violations	Yes	2	B
259	Pilot Mtn	1 violations	Yes	2	B
260	Belhaven	1 violations	Yes	0	A
261	Rose Hill	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
262	Black Creek	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
263	Foxfire Village	1 violations	Yes	29	C
264	Stedman	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
265	Harrells	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
266	Salemburg	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
267	Marshall	1 violations	Yes	8	B
268	Rowland	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
269	Princeton	1 violations	Yes	13	F
270	Goldston	1 violations	Yes	45	C
271	Aurora	1 violations	Yes	11	B+
272	Bent Creek	1 violations	Yes	0	A
273	Ogden	1 violations	Yes	0	A

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in North Carolina

Is nitrate in North Carolina tap water dangerous?

Yes — 273 cities in North Carolina have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in North Carolina water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

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