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North Carolina Water Quality Report

400 cities tested · Average grade: C+ · 8.5M people served

Cities Tested
400
Avg Score
69.2
Population Served
8.5M
Avg Grade
C+
Live Water Alerts for North Carolina →
Latest News

Latest water news in North Carolina

Recent reporting on North Carolina drinking water — boil-water advisories, regulatory action, and infrastructure events.

Jul 17, 2026

North Carolina Awards $244 Million for Water Projects Across 28 Counties as Demand Far Outstrips Funds

Gov. Stein and NC DEQ announced $244M for drinking water and wastewater projects, but applicants requested $1.6 billion — six times what was available.

Read full story →
Jul 15, 2026

Anson County, NC Enters Second Week of Boil Water Advisory After Repeated Highway 74 Main Breaks

A week after a July 7 main break, Anson County, NC remains under a boil water advisory. A second break and stalled repairs may cut service for days.

Read full story →
Jul 12, 2026

Mid-July 2026 Boil-Water Roundup: East Point, West Columbia, and Anson County

Mid-July boil-water advisories: a sinkhole main break in East Point GA, four advisories in West Columbia SC, a 24-hour outage in Anson County NC.

Read full story →
Analysis

North Carolina water quality overview

North Carolina's drinking water quality is fair overall, with an average score of 69.2 out of 100 across 400 cities tested. The median score is 76.1, serving a total population of 8,480,163 residents. The state shows a mixed picture: 79 cities earned an A, while 64 cities received an F. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 135 of 400 cities tested (34%). 91 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. 7 cities have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb, often indicating aging infrastructure with lead service lines or lead solder. The state relies on a mix of water sources: 163 cities use groundwater while 237 draw from surface water such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Key Concerns

Issues to watch in North Carolina

135 cities
PFAS Detected
34% of tested cities have PFAS in their water supply.
7 cities
Lead Exceedances
Lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 ppb (90th percentile).
345 cities
Health Violations
75,964 total violations recorded, 395 with unresolved issues.
64 cities
Failing Systems
Received a grade of F, indicating serious water quality issues.
Contaminant Data

Explore contaminants in North Carolina

Lead in North Carolina → Ranked by 90th percentile level (ppb) PFAS in North Carolina → Ranked by compounds detected Copper in North Carolina → Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)

More contaminants tested in North Carolina

HAA5 → Chromium-6 → Arsenic → Nitrate → Strontium → 1,4-Dioxane → Manganese → Vanadium → Chlorate → Molybdenum → Cobalt → Lithium → NDMA → Perchlorate →
State context
38
Superfund sites in North Carolina
EPA National Priorities List
87.9%
of North Carolina residents on fluoridated water
CDC, 2020
8,151,230
lbs released to surface water
Top 10 TRI facilities, 2023
4.9%
of North Carolina domestic wells exceed EPA arsenic limit
USGS, 204 samples · 10 µg/L MCL
Domestic well chemistry

Private-well water in North Carolina

Based on USGS Powell Domestic-Well Database — 1,300 private wells sampled across North Carolina. These wells are not regulated by the EPA; if you draw your tap from a private well, the public-system grade above does not apply to you.

0.4 µg/L
Median arsenic in domestic wells
P90 4.0 µg/L · max 24.1 µg/L
40 µg/L
Median manganese in domestic wells
6.9% exceed 300 µg/L aesthetic limit
Industrial pollution

Top industrial water polluters in North Carolina

Industrial polluters nearby

The 10 facilities reporting the most pounds released to surface water in North Carolina, 2023.

Total reported releases to surface water: 8,151,230 lbs

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)
SMITHFIELD FRESH MEATS CORP - TAR HEEL
Food · UNITED GLOBAL FOODS US HOLDINGS INC
TAR HEEL, NC28392
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)3,568,128
PERDUE FOODS LLC - LEWISTON PROCESSING PLANT
Food · PERDUE FARMS INC
LEWISTON WOODVILLE, NC27849
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)2,109,368
MCIEAST-MCB CAMLEJ MAIN FACILITY
Other · US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
CAMP LEJEUNE, NC28547
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)606,274
INTERNATIONAL PAPER RIEGELWOOD MILL
Paper · INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO
RIEGELWOOD, NC28456
Methanol495,769
INTERNATIONAL PAPER- NEW BERN MILL
Paper · INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO
VANCEBORO, NC28586
Methanol437,579

+ 5 more facilities

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Test your own tap

Get your North Carolina water tested

City-level data shows the source and infrastructure picture — but lead and other home-plumbing issues only show up at your tap. Find a state-certified lab, see what to test for, and what it costs.
Grade Distribution

How North Carolina cities scored

A: 79 B: 161 C: 58 D: 38 F: 64

Best Cities

  1. A+ Wilkesboro 99
  2. A+ Nags Head 96.4
  3. A+ Swanquarter 96.2

Worst Cities

  1. F Fayetteville 30.2
  2. F Raleigh 30.7
  3. F Franklin 31
City Map

Water quality across North Carolina

Each dot is a city, colored by its water quality grade. Size reflects population served. Click any city to view its full water report.

All Cities

400 cities in North Carolina

Full rankings →
# City Grade Score Population Violations
1 Wilkesboro A+
99
4K 0
2 Nags Head A+
96.4
3K 13
3 Swanquarter A+
96.2
5K 68
4 Dunn A+
95
4K 1
5 Bent Creek A
94.3
800 10
6 Carrboro A
94.1
86K 2
7 Chinquapin A
93.8
5K 33
8 Edward A
93.5
9K 47
9 Beulaville A
92.2
1K 23
10 Shelby A
91.7
24K 16
11 Waxham A
91.7
625 52
12 Camden A
91.3
10K 50
13 Ocracoke A
91.2
900 6
14 Fontana A
91
950 44
15 Ogden A
90.9
760 14
16 Huntersville A
90.9
582 67
17 Belhaven A
90.7
2K 19
18 Pikeville A-
89.8
896 11
19 Rich Square A-
89.6
1K 28
20 Cherry Point A-
89.5
17K 8
21 Roxboro A-
89.5
11K 21
22 Farmville A-
89.5
9K 29
23 Haw River A-
89.5
3K 36
24 Stantonsburg A-
89.2
1K 94
25 Oriental A-
89.1
1K 11
26 Conway A-
89.1
887 15
27 Woodland A-
89.1
747 5
28 Micaville A-
89.1
650 29
29 Winton A-
89
9K 12
30 Buxton A-
89
5K 7
31 Cape Carteret A-
88.9
2K 19
32 Black Creek A-
88.8
2K 67
33 Clarkton A-
88.5
1K 22
34 Ferguson A-
88.5
685 5
35 Weldon A-
88.3
1K 82
36 Catawba A-
88.2
1K 7
37 Swepsonville A-
88.1
2K 25
38 Hildebran A-
88
8K 6
39 Glen Alpine A-
88
6K 3
40 Hiddenite A-
87.9
21K 24
41 Coats A-
87.8
3K 11
42 Salemburg A-
87.8
2K 13
43 Roseboro A-
87.7
1K 27
44 Longview A-
87.5
5K 83
45 Rose Hill A-
87.4
2K 96
46 East Spencer A-
87.4
2K 18
47 Kill Devil Hill A-
87.3
29K 11
48 Vanceboro A-
87.1
2K 7
49 Ahoskie A-
87
6K 62
50 Stoneville A-
87
1K 49
51 Lagrange A-
86.9
3K 24
52 Camp Lejeune A-
86.8
70K 30
53 Garland A-
86.8
948 31
54 Harkers Island A-
86.7
3K 50
55 Elizabeth City A-
86.6
43K 10
56 Windsor A-
86.5
15K 63
57 Holden Beach A-
86.5
6K 7
58 Harrellsville A-
86.5
843 39
59 Peachland A-
86.4
770 29
60 Saint Pauls A-
86.3
2K 62
61 Rodanthe A-
86.3
2K 6
62 Ayden A-
86.2
6K 7
63 Newton Grove A-
86.2
913 24
64 Seymour Johnson A-
86.1
7K 13
65 Clemmons A-
86
388K 43
66 Bethel A-
86
2K 19
67 Hudson A-
85.8
15K 35
68 Greenevers A-
85.6
1K 75
69 Boiling Springs A-
85.5
5K 12
70 Broadway A-
85.5
2K 32
71 Polkton A-
85.5
905 42
72 High Shoals A-
85.4
729 60
73 Chocowinity A-
85.3
3K 37
74 Badin A-
85.3
2K 25
75 Grifton A-
85.2
3K 63
76 Conetoe A-
85.2
1K 64
77 Thomasville A-
85.1
27K 15
78 Gibson A-
85.1
589 47
79 Harrells A-
85
2K 32
80 Manteo B+
84.9
3K 34
81 York B+
84.9
1K 5
82 Clinton B+
84.7
23K 19
83 Richlands B+
84.5
3K 19
84 Drexel B+
84.4
3K 8
85 Falcon B+
84.4
714 35
86 Havelock B+
84.3
15K 66
87 Deep Run B+
84.2
14K 8
88 Washington B+
84
35K 12
89 Kure Beach B+
84
5K 87
90 Richfield B+
84
5K 12
91 Stedman B+
84
2K 50
92 Fair Bluff B+
84
800 51
93 Trenton B+
83.8
9K 11
94 Jamestown B+
83.8
7K 21
95 Hobgood B+
83.7
665 7
96 Valdese B+
83.5
14K 48
97 Ridgecrest B+
83.5
950 28
98 Rutherford Coll B+
83.3
2K 3
99 Atlantic Beach B+
83.2
6K 12
100 Claremont B+
83.1
3K 151
101 Bostic B+
83
953 31
102 Morganton B+
82.8
27K 24
103 Pollocksville B+
82.8
858 33
104 Elizabethtown B+
82.6
20K 83
105 Ocean Isle Beach B+
82.4
8K 50
106 Jonesville B+
82.4
2K 87
107 Pink Hill B+
82.4
950 73
108 New Bern B+
82.3
76K 51
109 Gatesville B+
82.3
12K 17
110 Benson B+
82.3
4K 19
111 Seaboard B+
82.3
881 25
112 Whitakers B+
82.3
869 45
113 Bald Head Island B+
82.1
3K 35
114 Pembroke B+
82
3K 30
115 Taylortown B+
82
904 58
116 Elkin B+
81.9
4K 139
117 Maysville B+
81.9
1K 40
118 Mebane B+
81.8
20K 34
119 Mount Olive B+
81.7
4K 7
120 Beech Mountain B+
81.7
2K 32
121 Sharpsburg B+
81.7
2K 74
122 Hays B+
81.6
8K 3
123 Maple B+
81.5
24K 12
124 Bridgeton B+
81.5
6K 9
125 Plymouth B+
81.5
3K 50
126 Mayodan B+
81.5
2K 19
127 Clyde B+
81.4
3K 8
128 Morven B+
81.4
512 23
129 Miller Creek B+
81.3
13K 5
130 N Wilkesboro B+
81.3
12K 79
131 Granite Falls B+
81.2
20K 52
132 Oakboro B+
81.2
3K 128
133 Grover B+
81.2
805 35
134 River Bend B+
81
3K 43
135 Brunswick B+
81
576 104
136 Whispering Pines B+
80.8
4K 10
137 Whittier B+
80.8
570 60
138 Aquadale B+
80.6
4K 48
139 New London B+
80.6
3K 51
140 Aurora B+
80.6
805 56
141 Murfreesboro B+
80.5
4K 24
142 Marshville B+
80.5
3K 54
143 Montreat B+
80.5
798 66
144 Eastover B+
80.3
8K 4
145 Moravian Falls B+
80.3
3K 11
146 Chadbourn B+
80.3
2K 19
147 King B+
80.2
23K 34
148 Green Level B+
80.2
2K 30
149 Red Springs B+
80.1
4K 29
150 Lake Junaluska B+
80.1
2K 19
151 Rowland B+
80.1
1K 32
152 Erwin B+
80
12K 5
153 Robersonville B+
80
1K 87
154 Enfield B
79.9
2K 79
155 Brown Summit B
79.8
686 68
156 Ronda B
79.7
938 19
157 Dublin B
79.7
603 17
158 Delco B
79.6
3K 20
159 Mount Airy B
79.1
10K 94
160 Columbia B
79.1
4K 142
161 Lake Waccamaw B
79.1
3K 24
162 Tryon B
78.9
6K 103
163 Fairmont B
78.9
3K 41
164 Oak Island B
78.8
27K 30
165 Maiden B
78.8
5K 99
166 Maple Hill B
78.7
968 17
167 Linden B
78.6
2K 38
168 Saluda B
78.5
2K 65
169 Burnsville B
78.4
4K 113
170 Ranlo B
78.3
5K 34
171 Aulander B
78.3
2K 26
172 Teachey B
78.2
663 18
173 Lumberton B
78.1
24K 10
174 Siler City B
78.1
9K 56
175 Taylorsville B
78
3K 56
176 Pilot Mtn B
77.9
2K 58
177 Lucama B
77.9
881 35
178 Wade B
77.8
780 19
179 Corolla B
77.7
11K 234
180 Dobson B
77.7
3K 95
181 Locust B
77.6
10K 79
182 Tabor City B
77.6
3K 143
183 Dortches B
77.6
2K 7
184 Wrightsville Beach B
77.5
5K 18
185 Lowell B
77.5
4K 27
186 Four Oaks B
77.2
3K 39
187 Pinetops B
77.2
1K 19
188 White Lake B
76.8
6K 104
189 Sparta B
76.8
2K 248
190 Fleetwood B
76.8
519 26
191 Mars Hill B
76.7
3K 138
192 Warsaw B
76.6
3K 144
193 Star B
76.6
933 29
194 Butner B
76.5
19K 42
195 Bladenboro B
76.5
3K 20
196 Seagrove B
76.5
2K 37
197 Kenansville B
76.4
19K 205
198 Marshall B
76.4
1K 85
199 Warrenton B
76.3
12K 57
200 Kings Mountain B
76.1
15K 30
201 Fremont B
76.1
1K 29
202 Calypso B
75.9
660 46
203 Andrews B
75.8
3K 123
204 Emerald Isle B
75.7
5K 62
205 Roanoke Rapids B
75.4
16K 71
206 Bolton B
75.4
668 64
207 West Columbia B
75.4
626 49
208 Ansonville B
75.3
1K 75
209 Troutman B-
74.7
10K 147
210 Spruce Pine B-
74.5
6K 106
211 Wadesboro B-
74.5
6K 63
212 Biscoe B-
74.5
3K 19
213 Bellarthur B-
74.3
11K 38
214 Wingate B-
74.2
4K 77
215 Wilson Mills B-
74
92K 22
216 Angier B-
74
10K 16
217 Franklinville B-
74
1K 67
218 Parkton B-
73.9
903 367
219 Lawndale B-
73.9
660 305
220 Monroe B-
73.8
211K 38
221 Lexington B-
73.7
20K 60
222 High Point B-
73.5
118K 15
223 Mcadenville B-
73.5
1K 139
224 Bayboro B-
73.2
20K 45
225 Faison B-
73.2
1K 36
226 Bakersville B-
73.1
725 129
227 Oxford B-
73
9K 87
228 Magnolia B-
73
980 20
229 Kittrell B-
72.9
1K 88
230 Rutherfordton B-
72.8
18K 98
231 Scotland Neck B-
72.5
3K 116
232 Winterville B-
72.4
10K 30
233 Maggie Valley B-
71.7
10K 67
234 Yadkinville B-
71.5
4K 57
235 Fletcher B-
70.8
790 204
236 Forest City B-
70.5
22K 141
237 Cherokee B-
70.5
19K 18
238 Lillington B-
70.3
121K 33
239 Lenoir B-
70.3
1K 149
240 Lake Gaston B-
70.1
4K 88
241 Snow Hill C+
69.2
16K 112
242 Waynesville C+
68.9
20K 169
243 Roper C+
68.5
546 99
244 Wentworth C+
68.1
2K 56
245 Stokes C+
67.9
4K 60
246 Garysburg C+
67.9
2K 58
247 Sherrills Ford C+
67.8
5K 230
248 Saxapahaw C+
67.7
1K 198
249 Boonville C+
67.5
2K 46
250 Rhodhiss C+
67.5
937 19
251 Newland C+
67.3
1K 48
252 Wagram C+
67.3
965 48
253 Marble C+
67.1
999 48
254 Hot Springs C+
67
946 197
255 Canton C+
66.9
8K 287
256 Robbinsville C+
66.8
3K 291
257 Surf City C+
66.6
10K 143
258 Norlina C+
65.3
1K 72
259 Wilson C+
65
60K 46
260 Smithfield C+
65
37K 70
261 East Arcadia C
64.9
633 137
262 Topsail Beach C
64.8
4K 96
263 Rockingham C
64.6
35K 55
264 Foxfire Village C
64.2
2K 170
265 Liberty C
63.4
3K 348
266 Vass C
63.4
2K 158
267 Gaston C
63.3
1K 55
268 Morehead City C
63.1
10K 146
269 Leland C
63
46K 70
270 Eden C
62.8
27K 59
271 Goldston C
62.5
1K 170
272 Kenly C
62.1
2K 65
273 Whiteville C
62
16K 144
274 Laurinburg C
61.7
23K 81
275 Faith C
61.4
1K 35
276 Cherryville C
61.1
6K 117
277 Rocky Mount C
60.8
56K 79
278 Mocksville C
60.7
38K 137
279 Old Fort C
60.6
2K 345
280 Spring Hope C
60.5
1K 187
281 Maxton C
60.4
3K 32
282 Denver C-
60
51K 83
283 Blowing Rock C
60
2K 394
284 Greenville C-
59.6
126K 262
285 Williamston C-
59.6
8K 78
286 Denton C-
59.2
11K 138
287 Kinston C-
59.1
43K 133
288 Louisburg C-
59.1
5K 285
289 Kannapolis C-
58.3
55K 245
290 Ellenboro C-
58
2K 60
291 Holly Springs C-
57
52K 215
292 Albemarle C-
56.9
19K 117
293 Selma C-
56.1
7K 110
294 Stanfield C-
56.1
1K 90
295 Pinehurst C-
55.5
30K 186
296 Hillsborough C-
55.4
14K 218
297 Bailey C-
55.4
662 170
298 Kernersville C-
55.2
2K 343
299 Pine Level D+
54.3
3K 172
300 Bryson City D+
53.8
4K 201
301 Black Mountain D+
53.7
12K 179
302 East Bend D+
53.7
2K 257
303 Belmont D+
53.5
19K 179
304 Edenton D+
53.2
17K 79
305 Troy D+
53.2
4K 85
306 Lincolnton D+
53.1
16K 185
307 Pinebluff D+
52.8
26K 221
308 Spring Lake D+
52.7
13K 239
309 West Jefferson D+
52.3
1K 432
310 Cleveland D+
52.3
1K 227
311 Elon D+
51.4
14K 223
312 Archdale D+
51.3
13K 338
313 Ramseur D+
50.6
2K 142
314 Hertford D+
50.2
15K 73
315 Carthage D+
50.2
13K 188
316 Hayesville D
49.2
2K 287
317 Norwood D
48.7
4K 86
318 Murphy D
48
5K 335
319 Lilesville D
48
900 224
320 Stokesdale D
47.5
2K 705
321 Clayton D
47
34K 295
322 Carolina Beach D
47
7K 279
323 Cameron D
47
565 555
324 Bessemer City D
46.5
6K 129
325 Jackson D
46
6K 135
326 Banner Elk D
46
4K 976
327 Columbus D
46
2K 277
328 Elm City D
46
1K 107
329 Candor D
46
967 91
330 Zebulon D
46
721 531
331 Mt Pleasant D
45.9
2K 115
332 Yanceyville D
45.2
2K 167
333 Cullowhee D
45
8K 443
334 Walnut Cove D
45
2K 760
335 Jefferson D
45
2K 404
336 Graham D
45
517 454
337 Linville F
44.9
4K 333
338 Ellerbe F
44.9
2K 45
339 Beaufort F
44.4
5K 211
340 Efland F
44.3
9K 123
341 Gibsonville F
44
9K 524
342 Micro F
44
577 276
343 Tarboro F
43.8
27K 97
344 Conover F
43.6
15K 770
345 Asheville F
43.4
160K 456
346 China Grove F
43.3
6K 404
347 Hickory F
43.2
76K 770
348 Newport F
43.2
25K 347
349 Salisbury F
43.1
46K 957
350 Wallace F
43
6K 168
351 Stanley F
43
5K 479
352 Wake Forest F
43
3K 377
353 Cashiers F
43
776 1166
354 Summerfield F
43
668 509
355 Nebo F
43
664 309
356 Gastonia F
42.6
94K 4271
357 Mt Gilead F
42.5
15K 95
358 Newton F
42.3
18K 1141
359 Brevard F
42.2
12K 968
360 Franklinton F
42
26K 257
361 Madison F
42
2K 248
362 Robbins F
42
2K 114
363 Goldsboro F
41
104K 309
364 Marion F
41
11K 577
365 Littleton F
41
2K 312
366 Rosman F
41
685 180
367 Weaverville F
40.5
9K 517
368 Burgaw F
40.4
36K 87
369 Hamlet F
40.1
11K 44
370 Harrisburg F
39.9
21K 713
371 Lake Lure F
39
2K 488
372 Reidsville F
38.9
15K 802
373 Apex F
38.5
82K 569
374 Boone F
38.5
32K 654
375 Highlands F
38.5
9K 733
376 Jacksonville F
38.3
212K 552
377 Concord F
38.2
121K 1431
378 Princeton F
38.2
1K 61
379 Hendersonville F
38
80K 577
380 Pittsboro F
38
6K 245
381 Raeford F
37.5
59K 907
382 Nashville F
36.8
14K 1044
383 Durham F
36.6
327K 3916
384 Charlotte F
36.5
1.2M 1663
385 Henderson F
36.4
15K 317
386 Mooresville F
36.2
53K 890
387 Asheboro F
36.1
28K 629
388 Cary F
34.6
233K 93
389 Randleman F
34.5
5K 280
390 Aberdeen F
34.2
13K 1385
391 Wilmington F
34
199K 241
392 Statesville F
33.9
58K 936
393 Greensboro F
33.5
320K 1676
394 Dallas F
33.5
9K 782
395 Fuquay-Varina F
33.1
43K 607
396 Burlington F
33
62K 641
397 Sanford F
33
49K 537
398 Franklin F
31
10K 462
399 Raleigh F
30.7
640K 3207
400 Fayetteville F
30.2
216K 802
Counties

Browse North Carolina counties

Alamance 8 cities · avg 67.1 Alexander 2 cities · avg 83 Alleghany 1 city · avg 76.8 Anson 6 cities · avg 75.2 Ashe 3 cities · avg 58 Avery 3 cities · avg 52.7 Beaufort 5 cities · avg 86.8 Bertie 2 cities · avg 82.4 Bladen 6 cities · avg 78.2 Brunswick 5 cities · avg 78.6 Buncombe 6 cities · avg 66 Burke 6 cities · avg 85 Cabarrus 3 cities · avg 41.3 Caldwell 4 cities · avg 76.2 Camden 1 city · avg 91.3 Carteret 7 cities · avg 69.3 Caswell 1 city · avg 45.2 Catawba 8 cities · avg 66.8 Chatham 3 cities · avg 59.5 Cherokee 3 cities · avg 63.6 Chowan 1 city · avg 53.2 Clay 1 city · avg 49.2 Cleveland 5 cities · avg 81.7 Columbus 8 cities · avg 77.4 Craven 6 cities · avg 84.3 Cumberland 7 cities · avg 69.7 Currituck 2 cities · avg 79.6 Dare 5 cities · avg 88.8 Davidson 3 cities · avg 72.7 Davie 1 city · avg 60.7 Duplin 11 cities · avg 77.8 Durham 1 city · avg 36.6 Edgecombe 4 cities · avg 72.1 Forsyth 2 cities · avg 70.6 Franklin 2 cities · avg 50.5 Gaston 10 cities · avg 59.5 Gates 1 city · avg 82.3 Graham 2 cities · avg 78.9 Granville 2 cities · avg 74.8 Greene 1 city · avg 69.2 Guilford 7 cities · avg 57.9 Halifax 6 cities · avg 73.5 Harnett 5 cities · avg 71.8 Haywood 5 cities · avg 73.8 Henderson 2 cities · avg 54.4 Hertford 4 cities · avg 85.8 Hoke 1 city · avg 37.5 Hyde 2 cities · avg 93.7 Iredell 3 cities · avg 48.3 Jackson 2 cities · avg 44 Johnston 11 cities · avg 58.7 Jones 3 cities · avg 82.8 Lee 2 cities · avg 59.3 Lenoir 4 cities · avg 78.2 Lexington 1 city · avg 75.4 Lincoln 2 cities · avg 56.5 Macon 2 cities · avg 34.8 Madison 3 cities · avg 73.4 Martin 2 cities · avg 69.8 Mcdowell 3 cities · avg 48.2 Mecklenburg 2 cities · avg 63.7 Mitchell 2 cities · avg 73.8 Montgomery 6 cities · avg 62.2 Moore 9 cities · avg 58.3 Nash 6 cities · avg 62.1 New Hanover 5 cities · avg 66.7 Northampton 8 cities · avg 74.7 Onslow 3 cities · avg 69.9 Orange 3 cities · avg 64.6 Pamlico 2 cities · avg 81.2 Pasquotank 1 city · avg 86.6 Pender 4 cities · avg 62.6 Perquimans 1 city · avg 50.2 Person 1 city · avg 89.5 Pitt 8 cities · avg 77.6 Polk 3 cities · avg 67.8 Randolph 7 cities · avg 55.2 Richmond 3 cities · avg 49.9 Robeson 8 cities · avg 77.5 Rockingham 6 cities · avg 63.4 Rowan 6 cities · avg 57.6 Rutherford 5 cities · avg 64.7 Sampson 7 cities · avg 87.6 Scotland 3 cities · avg 71.4 Stanly 8 cities · avg 71.3 Stokes 2 cities · avg 62.6 Surry 4 cities · avg 79.2 Swain 2 cities · avg 67.3 Transylvania 2 cities · avg 41.6 Tyrrell 1 city · avg 79.1 Union 4 cities · avg 80 Vance 2 cities · avg 54.7 Wake 6 cities · avg 39.5 Warren 2 cities · avg 70.8 Washington 2 cities · avg 75 Watauga 3 cities · avg 60.1 Wayne 5 cities · avg 74.9 Wilkes 7 cities · avg 84.5 Wilson 5 cities · avg 73.4 Yadkin 4 cities · avg 68.8 Yancey 2 cities · avg 83.8 York 1 city · avg 84.9
ZIP Codes

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about North Carolina's water

Is North Carolina's tap water safe to drink?

North Carolina's water quality varies by city. The statewide average grade is C+ (69.2/100). 60% of cities scored an A or B, while 26% received a D or F. Check your specific city for detailed results.

Which North Carolina cities have the best water quality?

The top-rated cities are Wilkesboro (A+), Nags Head (A+), Swanquarter (A+). These cities scored highest based on violation history, lead levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Which North Carolina cities have the worst water quality?

The lowest-rated cities are Fayetteville (F), Raleigh (F), Franklin (F). We recommend residents in these areas consider water filtration and review their city's specific contaminant data.

How many North Carolina cities have PFAS in their water?

135 out of 400 cities tested positive for PFAS "forever chemicals" (34%). 91 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. Reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters can help reduce PFAS exposure.

Do any North Carolina cities have dangerous lead levels?

7 cities exceed the EPA lead action level of 15 ppb. Lead contamination typically comes from aging pipes and lead service lines rather than the water source itself. An NSF 53-certified filter can effectively remove lead from tap water.

Water quality resources

Guide
How to Read Your Water Quality Report
Read guide →
Guide
Lead in Drinking Water
Read guide →
Guide
PFAS Forever Chemicals Explained
Read guide →
News
Latest Water Quality News
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