Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Wilmington, NC tap water
38 contaminants were measured in the Wilmington, 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
- 38
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Copper
- Service area
- NC
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound approaching EPA limits in Wilmington, 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.
HFPO-DA (GenX chemicals)
● Approaching limit (84%)below national p90 (93.88 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Lithium
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (76.59999999999991 mg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Wilmington, NC's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 12 sources.
Source
- WELL #1_SCHOONER
- WELL #2_ELEVATED TANK
- WELL #3_TILDALHOLM
- WELL #4_ARRONDALE
- + 8 more
Treatment
- TREATMENT_PLT_WELL #1_SCHOONER
- TREATMENT_PLT_WELL #2_ELEVATED TANK
- TREATMENT_PLT_WELL #3_TIDALHOLM
- + 9 more
Distribution
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
3 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Wilmington, 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
GROSS BETA worst: 2016 | 14.5 mrem/yr 3.6× | 4 mrem/yr | '16'18 |
TTHM worst: 2013 | 0.15 mg/L 1.9× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2019 | 0.06 mg/L 1.0× | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2016 | 0.5 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
ETHYLBENZENE worst: 2018 | 0.0012 mg/L within | 0.7 mg/L | '18 |
XYLENES TOTAL worst: 2018 | 0.008 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '18 |
DALAPON worst: 2016 | 0.0011 ug/L within below national p90 | 200 ug/L | '16'17 |
MBAA worst: 2016 | 0.0018 mg/L | — | '16'17'19 |
COPPER worst: 2014 | 0.312 mg/L below national p90 | — | '14'17 |
LEAD worst: 2014 | 0.0075 mg/L | — | '14'17 |
DBAA worst: 2015 | 0.0029 mg/L | — | '15'16'17'18'19 |
DCAA worst: 2014 | 0.009 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TCAA worst: 2014 | 0.0098 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2014 | 0.0061 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2014 | 0.0068 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2014 | 0.03 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2014 | 0.012 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BoronA naturally occurring element from rock and soil. | 50.2Running annual avgSystem-wide | 80MCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.35–2.2 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0Reported levelSystem-wide | 0MCLG | None detected |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid, a chlorinated PFAS compound. | Not detected ng/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)ADONA, a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | Not detected ng/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid, a chlorinated PFAS compound. | Not detected ng/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid, a PFAS-related compound. | Not detected ng/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid, a PFAS-related compound. | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acidNonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid, a PFAS-related compound. | Not detected ng/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid, a PFAS-related compound. | Not detected ng/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid (PFEESA)Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid, a PFAS-related compound. | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)Perfluorodecanoic acid, a longer-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)Perfluorododecanoic acid, a longer-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTeDA)Perfluorotetradecanoic acid, a longer-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)Perfluorotridecanoic acid, a longer-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)Perfluoroundecanoic acid, a longer-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid, a PFAS-related compound. | 2.11 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.277 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.739 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.396 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.086 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanoic acidPerfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.515 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.21 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 0.578 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 0.677 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 0–0.39 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.13Reported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.19 NTUReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 1.43 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 6.29 pCi/LReported levelSystem-wide | 0 pCi/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Wilmington, NC's water
+Is Wilmington, NC tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Wilmington, NC water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Copper. 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 Wilmington, NC tap water?
38 contaminants were measured in Wilmington, NC's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), metals, and physical & aggregate. 9 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 Wilmington, NC tap water?
One contaminant in Wilmington, NC's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: Copper (69.2× 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 Wilmington, NC tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Copper, at 69.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, 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.