Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Raleigh, NC tap water
16 contaminants were measured in the Raleigh, NC water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 16
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- PFOS
- Service area
- NC
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in Raleigh, NC
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.4×)below national p90 (19.900000000000006 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (18 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Raleigh, NC's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 2 sources.
Source
- LAKE BENSON
- FALLS OF THE NEUSE
Treatment
- TREATMENT_PLT_EM JOHNSON WTP
- TREATMENT_PLT_DE BENTON
Distribution
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
16 historically-detected contaminants in Raleigh, NC
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
TTHM worst: 2016 | 0.0799 mg/L 100% | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2017 | 0.0533 mg/L 89% | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
THALLIUM worst: 2016 | 0.001 mg/L within | 0.002 mg/L | '16 |
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2017 | 1 pCi/L within below national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '17 |
BROMATE worst: 2012 | 0.002 mg/L within | 0.01 mg/L | '12 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2013 | 0.78 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
COPPER worst: 2013 | 0.21 mg/L below national p90 | — | '13'16'17'19 |
LEAD worst: 2013 | 0.004 mg/L | — | '13'16'17'19 |
DBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0013 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'18 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.02 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2014 | 0.001 mg/L | — | '14'16'18 |
MCAA worst: 2013 | 0.0034 mg/L | — | '13'14'15'16'17'19 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.012 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.013 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.035 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0057 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 3.35Reported level8/1/2024 DEBWTP Raw | 4MCL | Approaching the limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.52Reported level2/29/2024 DEBWTP Raw | 10MCL | Within the limit |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | Not detectedReported level5/9/2024 DEBWTP Raw | 10MCL | None detected |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detectedReported level11/7/2024 DEBWTP Raw | 10MCL | None detected |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 2.75 mg/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 2.55 mg/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simazine | 0.1 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.5Running annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.11 NTUReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Raleigh, NC's water
+Is Raleigh, NC tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Raleigh, NC water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: PFOS. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Raleigh, NC tap water?
16 contaminants were measured in Raleigh, NC's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), disinfectants, and disinfection byproducts. 13 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Raleigh, NC tap water?
One contaminant in Raleigh, NC's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: PFOS (1.1× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Raleigh, NC tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is PFOS, at 1.1× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Raleigh, NC tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: PFOA. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Raleigh, NC's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Raleigh, NC's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.