North Carolina Water Report Card: Worst Water Systems
The most contaminated public water systems in North Carolina, ranked by PFAS levels, lead, and EPA violations from official EPA data.
Quick Answer
Nashville, Town Of has the highest PFAS in North Carolina at 490 ppt (123x the EPA limit). Concord Comm Water System has the highest lead at 63 ppb. The tables below rank the worst systems in each category so you can see how your water compares.
Highest PFAS Levels in North Carolina
Public water systems in North Carolina with the highest peak PFAS ("forever chemical") reading in EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025). The EPA enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt.
| # | Water System | Location | Peak PFAS (ppt) | Compounds | vs 4 ppt limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville, Town Of | Nashville · 5,900 served | 490 | 4 | 123x |
| 2 | Bayleaf Master | Cary · 16,715 served | 152.6 | 9 | 38x |
| 3 | Brookwood Comm Wtr System | Cary · 15,380 served | 63.3 | 8 | 16x |
| 4 | Iredell Water Corporation | Statesville · 27,173 served | 60.6 | 7 | 15x |
| 5 | Greensboro, City Of | Greensboro · 319,588 served | 35.6 | 8 | 9x |
| 6 | Robeson County Water System | Lumberton · 67,970 served | 34 | 10 | 9x |
| 7 | Aberdeen, Town Of | Aberdeen · 12,473 served | 25.9 | 4 | 6x |
| 8 | Sanford, City Of | Sanford · 48,350 served | 23 | 8 | 6x |
| 9 | Dunn, City Of | Dunn · 12,442 served | 22.4 | 8 | 6x |
| 10 | Fayetteville Public Works Comm | Fayetteville · 215,590 served | 21.8 | 9 | 5x |
| 11 | Fuquay-Varina, Town Of | Fuquay-Varina · 42,954 served | 21 | 9 | 5x |
| 12 | Bessemer City, City Of | Bessemer City · 5,690 served | 21 | 6 | 5x |
Highest Lead Levels in North Carolina
Community water systems in North Carolina with the highest 90th-percentile lead result under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. The EPA action level is 15 ppb; there is no safe level of lead for children.
| # | Water System | Location | Lead 90th-pctile (ppb) | vs 15 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concord Comm Water System | Bostic · 1,867 served | 63 | 4.2x over |
| 2 | Ellerbe Town Of | Ellerbe · 2,050 served | 37 | 2.5x over |
| 3 | Vance Co Water District Phase 1 | Raleigh · 1,580 served | 30 | 2.0x over |
| 4 | Faith, Town Of | Faith · 1,316 served | 26 | 1.7x over |
| 5 | Marshville, Town Of | Marshville · 3,163 served | 24 | 1.6x over |
| 6 | Swepsonville, Town Of | Graham · 2,497 served | 19 | 1.3x over |
| 7 | Wallace, Town Of | Wallace · 5,825 served | 18.2 | 1.2x over |
| 8 | Lauradale S/D | Jacksonville · 2,527 served | 18 | 1.2x over |
| 9 | Franklin, Town Of | Franklin · 9,650 served | 17 | 1.1x over |
| 10 | Southern Pines, Town Of | Pinebluff · 24,102 served | 16.8 | 1.1x over |
| 11 | Bladenboro, Town Of | Bladenboro · 3,175 served | 16.7 | 1.1x over |
| 12 | Princeton, Town Of | Princeton · 1,653 served | 16 | 1.1x over |
Most EPA Violations in North Carolina
Community water systems in North Carolina with the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
| # | Water System | Location | Health-based violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carthage, Town Of | 4,255 served | 43 |
| 2 | Enfield Water System | Enfield · 1,775 served | 28 |
| 3 | Edenton, Town Of | Edenton · 5,500 served | 25 |
| 4 | Hamlet Water System | Hamlet · 10,635 served | 19 |
| 5 | Mount Pleasant, Town Of | Mt. Pleasant · 1,786 served | 18 |
| 6 | Pender County Utilities | Burgaw · 31,600 served | 18 |
| 7 | Edgecombe Water & Sewer District | Tarboro · 14,485 served | 17 |
| 8 | Montgomery County Water System | Mt Gilead · 14,710 served | 16 |
| 9 | Rockbridge S/D | Chapel Hill · 1,042 served | 15 |
| 10 | Rockingham Co - 220 Corridor | Wentworth · 1,200 served | 14 |
| 11 | Henderson-Kerr Lake Reg Wtr | Henderson · 14,937 served | 13 |
| 12 | Kenly, Town Of | Kenly · 2,301 served | 13 |
How This Report Card Is Built
PFAS rankings use EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), showing each system's peak detection above the 4 ppt EPA limit. Lead rankings use the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results. Violation counts come from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and count health-based violations. Lead and violation lists are limited to community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most PFAS-contaminated water system in North Carolina?
In EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025), Nashville, Town Of in Nashville had the highest recorded PFAS level in North Carolina at 490 ppt - about 123x the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Which North Carolina water system has the highest lead levels?
Concord Comm Water System in Bostic had the highest 90th-percentile lead result in North Carolina under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule at 63 ppb - 4.2x the 15 ppb action level.
Which North Carolina water system has the most EPA violations?
Carthage, Town Of has the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record in North Carolina, with 43 violations.
Where does the North Carolina water report card data come from?
PFAS figures come from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), lead from the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results, and violations from EPA SDWIS health-based violation records. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water. Check your exact address at knowyourexposure.com.
What North Carolina Residents Should Do
- Look up your exact address at knowyourexposure.com for your system's data
- See the full North Carolina water quality overview
- If your system is listed, a certified filter (reverse osmosis for PFAS, NSF-53 for lead) reduces exposure at the tap. See the best water filters.