Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in North Carolina Drinking Water

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

290

Cities Tested

290

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

14.1 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

362

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in North Carolina: what the data shows

North Carolina has 290 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 290 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%

290 of 290 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

8001 of 8001 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	Mt Airy	96 violations	Yes	16	D
6	Knightdale	89 violations	Yes	208	D
7	Garner	85 violations	Yes	89	F
8	Chapel Hill	82 violations	Yes	66	F
9	Greensboro	81 violations	Yes	29	F
10	Statesville	68 violations	Yes	37	F
11	Reidsville	65 violations	Yes	36	F
12	Hickory	64 violations	Yes	11	F
13	Charlotte	60 violations	Yes	47	F
14	Salisbury	59 violations	Yes	27	F
15	Newton	58 violations	Yes	15	F
16	Banner Elk	57 violations	Yes	101	D
17	Conover	53 violations	Yes	6	F
18	Aberdeen	45 violations	Yes	54	F
19	Whitsett	45 violations	Yes	6	D+
20	Dallas	43 violations	Yes	34	F
21	Kernersville	40 violations	Yes	13	C-
22	Mooresville	39 violations	Yes	22	F
23	Harrisburg	39 violations	Yes	28	F
24	Zebulon	39 violations	Yes	35	D
25	Franklin	38 violations	Yes	14	F
26	China Grove	35 violations	Yes	11	F
27	Stanley	34 violations	Yes	6	F
28	Boone	30 violations	Yes	33	F
29	Fayetteville	29 violations	Yes	392	F
30	Apex	29 violations	Yes	40	F
31	Fuquay-Varina	29 violations	Yes	34	F
32	Nashville	29 violations	Yes	36	F
33	West Jefferson	28 violations	Yes	8	D+
34	Burlington	26 violations	Yes	33	F
35	Highlands	26 violations	Yes	25	F
36	Cullowhee	25 violations	Yes	13	D
37	Weaverville	24 violations	Yes	35	F
38	Cashiers	24 violations	Yes	74	F
39	Newport	22 violations	Yes	31	F
40	Morehead City	21 violations	Yes	17	C
41	Archdale	21 violations	Yes	30	D+
42	Farmville	21 violations	Yes	0	A-
43	Wendell	21 violations	Yes	70	D
44	Brevard	20 violations	Yes	26	F
45	Spring Lake	20 violations	Yes	25	D+
46	Willow Springs	20 violations	Yes	6	D
47	Middlesex	20 violations	Yes	12	F
48	Sherrills Ford	19 violations	Yes	3	C+
49	Randleman	19 violations	Yes	26	F
50	Oak Ridge	19 violations	Yes	54	D
51	Belmont	18 violations	Yes	6	D+
52	Henderson	18 violations	Yes	25	F
53	Wake Forest	18 violations	Yes	48	F
54	Madison	18 violations	Yes	19	F
55	Wilmington	17 violations	Yes	22	F
56	Black Mountain	17 violations	Yes	5	D+
57	Stokesdale	17 violations	Yes	14	D
58	Liberty	17 violations	Yes	11	C
59	Walnut Cove	17 violations	Yes	10	D
60	East Bend	17 violations	Yes	28	D+
61	Kinston	16 violations	Yes	4	C-
62	Cameron	16 violations	Yes	1	D
63	Clayton	15 violations	Yes	50	D
64	Hayesville	15 violations	Yes	5	D
65	Cleveland	15 violations	Yes	2	D+
66	Greenville	14 violations	Yes	7	C-
67	Hendersonville	14 violations	Yes	36	F
68	Kannapolis	14 violations	Yes	16	C-
69	Asheboro	14 violations	Yes	8	F
70	Marion	14 violations	Yes	20	F
71	Mars Hill	14 violations	Yes	19	B
72	Columbus	14 violations	Yes	2	D
73	Sparta	14 violations	Yes	2	B
74	Hot Springs	14 violations	Yes	3	C+
75	Graham	14 violations	Yes	11	D
76	Raeford	13 violations	Yes	16	F
77	Louisburg	13 violations	Yes	20	C-
78	Vass	13 violations	Yes	16	C
79	Lake Lure	13 violations	Yes	17	F
80	Robbinsville	13 violations	Yes	7	C+
81	Roaring Gap	13 violations	Yes	7	C+
82	Pinehurst	12 violations	Yes	5	C-
83	Elon	12 violations	Yes	7	D+
84	Linville	12 violations	Yes	11	F
85	Andrews	12 violations	Yes	1	B
86	Mt Pleasant	12 violations	Yes	19	D
87	Spring Hope	12 violations	Yes	3	C
88	Rosman	12 violations	Yes	12	F
89	Holly Springs	11 violations	Yes	8	C-
90	Forest City	11 violations	Yes	1	B-
91	Mcadenville	11 violations	Yes	1	B-
92	Saxapahaw	11 violations	Yes	7	C+
93	Nebo	11 violations	Yes	8	F
94	Asheville	10 violations	Yes	12	F
95	Lincolnton	10 violations	Yes	0	D+
96	Elkin	10 violations	Yes	1	B+
97	Newland	10 violations	Yes	4	C+
98	Climax	10 violations	Yes	1	C-
99	Rutherfordton	9 violations	Yes	7	B-
100	Hillsborough	9 violations	Yes	9	C-
101	Carthage	9 violations	Yes	68	D+
102	Troutman	9 violations	Yes	3	B-
103	Gibsonville	9 violations	Yes	12	F
104	Canton	9 violations	Yes	8	C+
105	Selma	9 violations	Yes	7	C-
106	Bessemer City	9 violations	Yes	17	D
107	Spruce Pine	9 violations	Yes	3	B-
108	Maiden	9 violations	Yes	3	B
109	Hampstead	9 violations	Yes	24	C
110	Brown Summit	9 violations	Yes	0	B
111	Stovall	9 violations	Yes	30	C
112	Sanford	8 violations	Yes	31	F
113	Denver	8 violations	Yes	10	C-
114	Granite Falls	8 violations	Yes	4	B+
115	Pittsboro	8 violations	Yes	110	F
116	Wallace	8 violations	Yes	4	F
117	Longview	8 violations	Yes	0	A-
118	Bryson City	8 violations	Yes	13	D+
119	Summerfield	8 violations	Yes	17	F
120	Yanceyville	8 violations	Yes	33	D
121	Lenoir	8 violations	Yes	2	B-
122	Taylortown	8 violations	Yes	7	B+
123	Fletcher	8 violations	Yes	2	B-
124	Micro	8 violations	Yes	15	F
125	East Arcadia	8 violations	Yes	5	C
126	Jacksonville	7 violations	Yes	22	F
127	Lawndale	7 violations	Yes	1	B-
128	Rocky Mount	7 violations	Yes	17	C
129	Mount Airy	7 violations	Yes	0	B
130	Beaufort	7 violations	Yes	34	F
131	Murphy	7 violations	Yes	6	D
132	River Bend	7 violations	Yes	1	B+
133	Littleton	7 violations	Yes	17	F
134	Weldon	7 violations	Yes	7	A-
135	Clarkton	7 violations	Yes	0	A-
136	Parkton	7 violations	Yes	0	B-
137	Whittier	7 violations	Yes	1	B+
138	Mocksville	6 violations	Yes	19	C
139	Waynesville	6 violations	Yes	5	C+
140	Ahoskie	6 violations	Yes	1	A-
141	Tabor City	6 violations	Yes	0	B
142	Murfreesboro	6 violations	Yes	4	B+
143	Claremont	6 violations	Yes	0	B+
144	Blowing Rock	6 violations	Yes	7	C
145	Jefferson	6 violations	Yes	33	D
146	Faith	6 violations	Yes	1	C
147	High Shoals	6 violations	Yes	8	A-
148	Maine (T)	6 violations	Yes	7	C
149	Waxham	6 violations	Yes	2	A
150	Candler	6 violations	Yes	6	C+
151	Goldsboro	5 violations	Yes	11	F
152	Franklinton	5 violations	Yes	40	F
153	Mt Holly	5 violations	Yes	1	A-
154	Cherokee	5 violations	Yes	6	B-
155	Corolla	5 violations	Yes	7	B
156	Surf City	5 violations	Yes	22	C+
157	Ranlo	5 violations	Yes	5	B
158	Pine Level	5 violations	Yes	8	D+
159	Beech Mountain	5 violations	Yes	9	B+
160	Chadbourn	5 violations	Yes	1	B+
161	Robbins	5 violations	Yes	20	F
162	Candor	5 violations	Yes	7	D
163	Sapphire	5 violations	Yes	1	C-
164	Brunswick	5 violations	Yes	1	B+
165	Bailey	5 violations	Yes	1	C-
166	Cary	4 violations	Yes	9	F
167	Lexington	4 violations	Yes	14	B-
168	Kenansville	4 violations	Yes	2	B
169	Snow Hill	4 violations	Yes	2	C+
170	Whiteville	4 violations	Yes	2	C
171	Oxford	4 violations	Yes	7	B-
172	Tryon	4 violations	Yes	3	B
173	Norwood	4 violations	Yes	32	D
174	Kure Beach	4 violations	Yes	4	B+
175	Burnsville	4 violations	Yes	5	B
176	Stokes	4 violations	Yes	4	C+
177	Dobson	4 violations	Yes	1	B
178	Chocowinity	4 violations	Yes	1	A-
179	Old Fort	4 violations	Yes	2	C
180	Kittrell	4 violations	Yes	1	B-
181	Stantonsburg	4 violations	Yes	1	A-
182	Greenevers	4 violations	Yes	2	A-
183	Pinetops	4 violations	Yes	1	B
184	Lucama	4 violations	Yes	0	B
185	Seaboard	4 violations	Yes	4	B+
186	Fair Bluff	4 violations	Yes	2	B+
187	Huntersville	4 violations	Yes	1	A
188	Bakersville	4 violations	Yes	3	B-
189	Fleetwood	4 violations	Yes	1	B
190	Clemmons	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
191	Oak Island	3 violations	Yes	1	B
192	Elizabethtown	3 violations	Yes	1	B+
193	Edenton	3 violations	Yes	31	D+
194	Mt Gilead	3 violations	Yes	18	F
195	Bellarthur	3 violations	Yes	3	B-
196	Winterville	3 violations	Yes	1	B-
197	Cherryville	3 violations	Yes	7	C
198	Yadkinville	3 violations	Yes	2	B-
199	Columbia	3 violations	Yes	9	B
200	Lake Gaston	3 violations	Yes	13	B-
201	Oakboro	3 violations	Yes	18	B+
202	Ramseur	3 violations	Yes	38	D+
203	Elm City	3 violations	Yes	14	D
204	Marble	3 violations	Yes	4	C+
205	Pink Hill	3 violations	Yes	4	B+
206	Pikeville	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
207	Conway	3 violations	Yes	2	A-
208	Pollocksville	3 violations	Yes	1	B+
209	Harrellsville	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
210	Bolton	3 violations	Yes	1	B
211	Micaville	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
212	Leland	2 violations	Yes	11	C
213	High Point	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
214	Wilson Mills	2 violations	Yes	3	B-
215	Morganton	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
216	Burgaw	2 violations	Yes	21	F
217	Lumberton	2 violations	Yes	2	B
218	King	2 violations	Yes	12	B+
219	Laurinburg	2 violations	Yes	0	C
220	Clinton	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
221	Hiddenite	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
222	N Wilkesboro	2 violations	Yes	4	B+
223	Windsor	2 violations	Yes	7	A-
224	Hertford	2 violations	Yes	7	D+
225	Denton	2 violations	Yes	22	C-
226	Roxboro	2 violations	Yes	9	A-
227	Maggie Valley	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
228	Topsail Beach	2 violations	Yes	9	C
229	Jackson	2 violations	Yes	4	D
230	Red Springs	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
231	Ellenboro	2 violations	Yes	5	C-
232	Bald Head Island	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
233	Scotland Neck	2 violations	Yes	44	B-
234	Richlands	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
235	Saint Pauls	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
236	Garysburg	2 violations	Yes	11	C+
237	Boonville	2 violations	Yes	2	C+
238	Saluda	2 violations	Yes	0	B
239	Enfield	2 violations	Yes	45	B
240	Faison	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
241	Beulaville	2 violations	Yes	0	A
242	Garland	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
243	Maysville	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
244	Rich Square	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
245	Wagram	2 violations	Yes	4	C+
246	Bostic	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
247	Newton Grove	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
248	Montreat	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
249	Falcon	2 violations	Yes	0	B+
250	Calypso	2 violations	Yes	1	B
251	Lillington	1 violations	Yes	4	B-
252	Maxton	1 violations	Yes	12	C
253	Mebane	1 violations	Yes	10	B+
254	Roanoke Rapids	1 violations	Yes	17	B
255	Rockingham	1 violations	Yes	15	C
256	Eden	1 violations	Yes	10	C
257	Pinebluff	1 violations	Yes	32	D+
258	Albemarle	1 violations	Yes	46	C-
259	Cherry Point	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
260	Deep Run	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
261	Williamston	1 violations	Yes	4	C-
262	Bridgeton	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
263	Locust	1 violations	Yes	24	B
264	Efland	1 violations	Yes	10	F
265	Trenton	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
266	Siler City	1 violations	Yes	29	B
267	Atlantic Beach	1 violations	Yes	5	B+
268	Wadesboro	1 violations	Yes	24	B-
269	Boiling Springs	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
270	Warsaw	1 violations	Yes	6	B
271	Plymouth	1 violations	Yes	8	B+
272	Lagrange	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
273	Mayodan	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
274	Linden	1 violations	Yes	2	B
275	Rodanthe	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
276	Pilot Mtn	1 violations	Yes	2	B
277	Belhaven	1 violations	Yes	0	A
278	Rose Hill	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
279	Stedman	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
280	Black Creek	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
281	Foxfire Village	1 violations	Yes	29	C
282	Harrells	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
283	Salemburg	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
284	Marshall	1 violations	Yes	8	B
285	Rowland	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
286	Princeton	1 violations	Yes	13	F
287	Goldston	1 violations	Yes	45	C
288	Aurora	1 violations	Yes	11	B+
289	Bent Creek	1 violations	Yes	0	A
290	Ogden	1 violations	Yes	0	A

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in North Carolina

Is nitrate in North Carolina tap water dangerous?

Yes — 290 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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