North Carolina Tap Water Quality Report

476 cities analyzed • 8,282,725 people served

Updated March 2026 • Data from EWG & EPA SDWIS

476

Cities Analyzed

8.5

Avg Above Guidelines

8,282,725

Total Population Served

Best Water Quality

Fairmont (0 above guidelines)

Most Concerns

Wilmington (22 above guidelines)

Most Common Contaminants in North Carolina

Contaminant	Found In	% of Cities
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) carcinogen	393 of 476	83%
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) carcinogen	379 of 476	80%
Chloroform carcinogen	376 of 476	79%
Bromodichloromethane carcinogen	372 of 476	78%
Dichloroacetic acid carcinogen	366 of 476	77%
Trichloroacetic acid carcinogen	342 of 476	72%
Dibromochloromethane carcinogen	327 of 476	69%
Fluoride	251 of 476	53%
Manganese	246 of 476	52%
Monochloroacetic acid	207 of 476	43%

City-by-City Water Quality Rankings

Ranked by number of contaminants above EWG health guidelines (most to fewest).

#	City	Detected	Above Guidelines	Above Legal	People Served
1	Wilmington	37	22	1	180,516
2	Lillington	35	21	1	109,415
3	Holly Springs	35	21	2	45,058
4	Angier	35	21	2	8,468
5	Coats	35	21	1	2,831
6	Linden	35	21	1	2,077
7	Wrightsville Beach	38	20	1	5,300
8	Carthage	33	19	0	29,509
9	Bolivia	33	18	2	152,030
10	Oak Island	33	18	1	23,896
11	Ocean Isle Beach	33	18	2	7,925
12	City Of Southport	33	18	2	6,447
13	Holden Beach	33	18	2	6,358
14	Fuquay-varina	27	17	2	39,065
15	Goldsboro	31	17	1	34,959
16	Burgaw	31	17	0	30,506
17	Rockingham	30	17	0	22,021
18	Dunn	30	17	2	12,088
19	Bell Arthur	31	17	0	10,635
20	Seymour Johnson	31	17	1	6,875
21	Ellerbe	31	17	0	1,640
22	Falcon	30	17	2	714
23	Pfafftown	27	16	0	374,403
24	Greensboro	32	16	2	318,057
25	Fayetteville	30	16	3	214,137
26	Fort Liberty	26	16	2	65,000
27	Bald Head Island	33	16	1	3,291
28	Tabor City	33	16	0	3,277
29	Stokesdale	27	16	0	2,268
30	Stedman	30	16	3	1,506
31	Gaffney	27	16	2	1,257
32	Danbury	28	16	0	420
33	Welcome	27	15	0	163,586
34	Smithfield	28	15	1	70,549
35	Sanford	30	15	2	47,302
36	Mocksville	26	15	0	29,947
37	Kinston	32	15	1	27,475
38	Asheboro	26	15	2	27,191
39	Clayton	30	15	2	25,444
40	Pittsboro	27	15	0	22,948
41	Deep Run	30	15	1	13,332
42	Selma	26	15	2	12,900
43	Elon	27	15	2	11,350
44	Winterville	28	15	0	10,462
45	Stokes	29	15	0	3,327
46	Grifton	27	15	1	2,982
47	Four Oaks	28	15	1	2,776
48	Broadway	30	15	2	1,783
49	Goldston	30	15	2	1,285
50	Greenville	28	14	0	103,140
51	Carrboro	20	14	2	86,300
52	Apex	28	14	0	70,272
53	Lumberton	33	14	0	65,303
54	Burlington	25	14	2	59,287
55	Thomasville	24	14	0	27,485
56	Archdale	24	14	2	12,700
57	Gibsonville	26	14	2	8,920
58	Farmville	28	14	0	8,458
59	Ayden	27	14	0	6,366
60	Elm City	25	14	0	1,450
61	Alamance	26	14	2	1,100
62	Evergreen	33	14	0	165
63	Whitsett	25	14	2	89
64	Raleigh	25	13	0	620,000
65	Cary	27	13	0	212,000
66	Monroe	22	13	0	145,019
67	Mebane	23	13	2	18,579
68	Graham	23	13	2	18,057
69	Hamlet	22	13	2	10,289
70	Warrenton	19	13	0	9,654
71	Nashville	27	13	2	5,881
72	Wingate	22	13	0	3,950
73	Haw River	25	13	2	2,450
74	Sharpsburg	27	13	2	1,945
75	Whitakers	27	13	2	869
76	Wade	17	13	0	835
77	High Point	29	12	1	116,270
78	Concord	21	12	1	112,212
79	Rocky Mount	27	12	2	55,047
80	Wilson	25	12	0	50,001
81	Kannapolis	21	12	1	48,893
82	Salisbury	18	12	0	48,394
83	Leland	19	12	0	45,748
84	Camp Lejeune	18	12	0	37,500
85	Morganton	17	12	0	26,576
86	Raeford	22	12	0	24,899
87	Kill Devil Hills	18	12	0	22,766
88	Lexington	21	12	0	19,200
89	Elizabeth City	22	12	0	19,187
90	Butner	19	12	2	17,232
91	Roanoke Rapids	24	12	0	16,615
92	Eden	17	12	0	15,023
93	Henderson	19	12	0	14,998
94	Mt Gilead	22	12	0	14,710
95	Reidsville	21	12	0	14,087
96	Tarboro	18	12	0	12,845
97	Edenton	16	12	0	10,762
98	Oxford	20	12	0	8,721
99	Siler City	19	12	1	8,474
100	Glen Alpine	17	12	0	5,362
101	Maiden	22	12	0	5,275
102	Benson	19	12	2	4,259
103	Troy	22	12	0	3,591
104	Landis	21	12	1	3,200
105	Nags Head	18	12	0	3,125
106	Manteo	18	12	0	2,638
107	Pine Level	17	12	0	2,413
108	Kenly	24	12	0	2,301
109	Walnut Cove	15	12	0	2,210
110	Robbins	22	12	0	1,579
111	Littleton	19	12	1	1,540
112	Mt. Gilead	22	12	0	1,463
113	Princeton	24	12	0	1,326
114	Pink Hill	26	12	1	950
115	Star	22	12	0	933
116	Candor	22	12	0	875
117	Grover	21	12	0	694
118	Peachland	26	12	1	423
119	Shallotte	19	12	2	302
120	Biscoe	22	12	0	0
121	Drexel	17	12	0	0
122	Mooresville	22	11	0	47,531
123	New Bern	19	11	0	36,830
124	Statesville	22	11	0	28,844
125	Washington	13	11	0	22,467
126	Bayboro	17	11	0	19,665
127	Harrisburg	16	11	0	19,439
128	Laurinburg	16	11	0	18,288
129	Albemarle	21	11	1	17,368
130	Wadesboro	25	11	1	13,880
131	Kings Mountain	20	11	0	13,484
132	Lincolnton	26	11	0	12,453
133	Millers Creek	16	11	0	12,202
134	Roxboro	17	11	0	10,832
135	Mount Airy	18	11	0	10,314
136	Black Mountain	22	11	0	10,125
137	Williamston	15	11	0	7,650
138	Stanley	18	11	0	5,453
139	Long View	20	11	0	5,244
140	Richfield	22	11	1	4,316
141	Marshville	25	11	1	3,163
142	Pilot Mountain	21	11	0	1,976
143	Weldon	16	11	1	1,402
144	Norlina	16	11	0	1,108
145	Lilesville	25	11	1	900
146	Pikeville	20	11	0	896
147	Polkton	25	11	1	838
148	Morven	25	11	1	512
149	Cove City	19	11	0	440
150	Sims	13	11	1	440
151	Barium Spring	23	11	0	244
152	Ansonville	25	11	1	0
153	Salemburg	13	11	0	0
154	Charlotte	19	10	0	1,122,276
155	Durham	23	10	1	321,414
156	Gastonia	17	10	0	91,491
157	Hickory	20	10	0	65,707
158	Denver	20	10	0	46,139
159	Pinebluff	15	10	0	25,382
160	Forest City	19	10	0	21,366
161	Halifax	16	10	0	20,250
162	Kenansville	19	10	0	18,542
163	Mount Holly	16	10	0	17,780
164	Rutherfordton	18	10	0	17,093
165	Conover	20	10	0	15,540
166	Hillsborough	16	10	0	15,238
167	Havelock	14	10	0	14,550
168	Windsor	23	10	0	12,893
169	Carolina Beach	21	10	0	12,294
170	Elizabethtown	21	10	0	12,014
171	Spring Lake	13	10	0	11,725
172	Gatesville	14	10	0	11,621
173	Snow Hill	12	10	0	10,183
174	Denton	16	10	0	7,899
175	Dallas	17	10	0	7,422
176	Jamestown	16	10	1	6,543
177	Ahoskie	17	10	0	5,479
178	Swan Quarter	13	10	0	5,256
179	Kure Beach	12	10	0	5,110
180	Emerald Isle	13	10	0	4,995
181	Des Peres	13	10	0	4,849
182	Norwood	15	10	1	4,229
183	Lowell	18	10	0	3,725
184	Oakboro	15	10	0	3,173
185	Scotland Neck	16	10	0	2,761
186	Maxton	11	10	1	2,353
187	Ellenboro	20	10	0	2,258
188	Mt. Pleasant	16	10	0	2,194
189	Bostic	20	10	0	1,867
190	Freemont	20	10	0	1,265
191	Wagram	13	10	2	965
192	High Shoals	20	10	0	729
193	Inman	18	10	0	671
194	Mcadenville	17	10	0	470
195	Maury	12	10	0	468
196	Robersonville	13	10	0	419
197	Chesnee	13	10	0	330
198	Godwin	14	10	0	275
199	Glen Allen	11	10	1	178
200	Bessemer City	21	10	1	0
201	Asheville	17	9	0	156,720
202	Jacksonville	22	9	0	144,155
203	Lawndale	17	9	0	56,596
204	King	18	9	0	23,198
205	Lenoir	16	9	0	23,192
206	Shelby	14	9	0	21,826
207	Cherry Point	11	9	0	17,144
208	Belmont	15	9	0	15,010
209	Hiddenite	13	9	0	13,445
210	Clinton	13	9	0	12,459
211	252-426-4034	15	9	0	11,314
212	White Lake	12	9	0	5,862
213	Wallace	12	9	0	5,825
214	Boiling Springs	15	9	0	4,769
215	Louisburg	13	9	0	3,341
216	Topsail Beach	13	9	0	3,198
217	Columbia	12	9	0	3,177
218	Lagrange	10	9	0	3,167
219	River Bend	10	9	0	2,846
220	Hertford	15	9	0	2,145
221	Hayesville	10	9	0	1,870
222	Faison	10	9	0	1,410
223	Stoneville	15	9	0	1,308
224	Rich Square	10	9	0	1,067
225	Ronda	14	9	0	938
226	Pollocksville	12	9	0	858
227	Harrellsville	12	9	0	843
228	Aurora	14	9	1	805
229	Woodland	10	9	0	767
230	Teachey	12	9	0	663
231	Riegel Wood	12	9	0	609
232	Cornelius	11	9	0	561
233	Parkton	12	9	0	487
234	Powellsville	10	9	0	482
235	Stovall	11	9	0	450
236	Riegelwood	12	9	0	422
237	Farmington Hills	12	9	0	254
238	Walstonburg	12	9	0	240
239	Clemmons	11	9	0	187
240	Mountain Home	9	9	0	124
241	Castle Hayne	10	9	0	86
242	Boonville	11	9	0	0
243	Newton Grove	13	9	0	0
244	Autryville	10	9	0	0
245	Marshall	10	9	0	0
246	Randleman	17	8	2	367,681
247	Youngsville	10	8	0	24,612
248	Boone	15	8	0	19,667
249	Newton	15	8	0	17,592
250	Maple	11	8	0	17,430
251	Valdese	18	8	0	13,571
252	Aberdeen	14	8	0	12,241
253	Weaverville	9	8	0	8,145
254	Winton	11	8	0	7,970
255	Cullowhee	9	8	0	7,800
256	Whiteville	12	8	0	7,663
257	Cherryville	11	8	0	6,353
258	Jackson	10	8	0	5,715
259	Chinquapin	10	8	0	4,686
260	Elkin	12	8	0	4,018
261	Wilkesboro	10	8	0	3,705
262	Moravian Falls	11	8	0	3,455
263	Warsaw	10	8	0	3,151
264	New London	13	8	0	2,743
265	Liberty	16	8	1	2,655
266	Corolla	10	8	0	2,600
267	Lake Waccamaw	10	8	0	2,469
268	Enfield	10	8	0	2,319
269	Rutherford College	18	8	0	2,083
270	Sparta	11	8	0	1,900
271	Saluda	16	8	0	1,808
272	Aulander	9	8	0	1,438
273	Stantonsburg	11	8	0	1,275
274	Bunn	11	8	0	915
275	Lucama	11	8	0	881
276	Cleveland	8	8	0	872
277	Fallston	17	8	0	732
278	Wentworth	13	8	0	715
279	Bolton	10	8	0	681
280	Hobgood	10	8	0	665
281	Stanfield	9	8	0	643
282	Seaboard	10	8	0	495
283	Creswell	11	8	0	482
284	Dublin	10	8	0	447
285	Jamesville	10	8	0	440
286	Fountain	12	8	0	427
287	Hamilton	9	8	0	408
288	Grimesland	10	8	0	332
289	Marietra	10	8	0	48
290	Calypso	9	8	0	0
291	Hendersonville	15	7	0	78,298
292	Waynesville	11	7	0	19,758
293	Newport	11	7	0	19,512
294	Brevard	8	7	0	10,686
295	Maggie Valley	8	7	0	9,527
296	Trenton	13	7	0	8,999
297	N Wilkesboro	12	7	0	8,150
298	Goldboro	13	7	0	7,793
299	Sylva	8	7	0	7,503
300	Granite Falls	10	7	0	7,318
301	Plymouth	10	7	0	6,693
302	Highlands	10	7	0	6,614
303	Bridgeton	9	7	0	6,325
304	Spruce Pine	10	7	0	5,661
305	Tryon	8	7	0	5,476
306	Lake Junaluska	11	7	0	4,613
307	Red Springs	8	7	0	4,493
308	N. Wilkesboro	12	7	0	4,245
309	Taylorsville	9	7	0	3,265
310	Clyde	9	7	0	3,264
311	Mars Hill	7	7	0	3,150
312	South Mills	7	7	0	3,048
313	Ramseur	10	7	0	2,893
314	Pembroke	9	7	0	2,839
315	Chocowinity	11	7	0	2,565
316	Mayodan	11	7	0	2,418
317	Chadbourn	9	7	0	2,370
318	Jonesville	12	7	0	2,360
319	Richlands	8	7	0	2,052
320	Rose Hill	10	7	0	1,867
321	Vanceboro	8	7	0	1,864
322	Bladenboro	8	7	0	1,648
323	Clarkton	8	7	0	1,500
324	Franklinville	10	7	0	1,400
325	Beulaville	9	7	0	1,326
326	West Jefferson	11	7	0	1,305
327	Oriental	9	7	0	1,136
328	Maysville	8	7	0	1,100
329	Magnolia	10	7	0	980
330	Rhodhiss	8	7	0	867
331	Cliffside	10	7	0	721
332	Garland	9	7	0	625
333	Gibson	7	7	0	589
334	Roper	11	7	0	546
335	Swansboro	8	7	0	425
336	Pisgah Forest	15	7	0	288
337	Yadkinville	12	7	0	277
338	Pineville	9	7	0	200
339	Moyock	11	7	0	122
340	Willard	11	7	0	120
341	Robbinsville	9	7	0	117
342	Hampstead	11	7	0	101
343	Fort Mill	9	7	0	100
344	Dillsboro	8	7	0	37
345	Burnsville	8	7	0	0
346	Beech Mountain	9	7	0	0
347	Harrells	9	7	0	0
348	Atlantic Beach	10	7	0	0
349	Bryson City	9	7	0	0
350	Surf City	8	6	0	9,730
351	Marion	9	6	0	9,362
352	Troutman	8	6	0	7,223
353	Hildebran	7	6	0	5,207
354	Pine Knoll Shores	8	6	0	4,656
355	Mount Olive	7	6	0	4,190
356	Murfreesboro	8	6	0	3,645
357	St. Pauls	6	6	0	2,438
358	Belhaven	8	6	0	1,960
359	Blowing Rock	12	6	0	1,637
360	Franklinton	8	6	0	1,042
361	Newland	9	6	0	999
362	Jefferson	10	6	0	653
363	Macclesfield	8	6	0	494
364	Hubert	7	6	0	470
365	Whittier	7	6	0	302
366	Connelly Springs	7	6	0	239
367	Greer	7	6	0	30
368	La Grange	17	6	1	0
369	Ocracoke	6	6	0	0
370	Sea Level	7	6	0	0
371	Hays	8	6	0	0
372	Dobson	9	6	0	0
373	Fontana Dam	6	6	0	0
374	Morehead City	6	5	0	9,420
375	Beaufort	6	5	0	4,452
376	Faith	8	5	0	1,291
377	Virginia Beach	5	5	0	559
378	Cameron	7	5	0	490
379	Hookerton	6	5	0	409
380	Camden	4	4	0	5,717
381	Old Fort	9	4	0	1,700
382	Banner Elk	7	4	0	1,407
383	Pinetops	6	4	0	1,312
384	Saxapahaw	8	4	0	994
385	Rosman	5	4	0	724
386	Micro	8	4	0	444
387	Eastover	4	4	0	305
388	Barco	6	4	0	300
389	Chapel Hill	4	4	0	255
390	Glendale	5	4	0	226
391	Lugoff	5	4	0	91
392	Middlesex	8	4	0	80
393	Columbus	5	4	0	0
394	Linville	3	3	0	2,280
395	Elk Park	5	3	0	495
396	Mulberry	6	3	0	432
397	Seven Devils	6	3	0	400
398	Zebulon	5	3	0	332
399	Wendell	6	3	0	285
400	Pleasant Garden	4	3	0	265
401	Knightdale	3	3	0	232
402	Barnardsville	4	3	0	147
403	Englewood	6	3	0	135
404	East Bend	5	3	0	97
405	Crystal Bay	4	3	0	61
406	Hot Springs	4	3	0	59
407	Bakersville	7	3	0	0
408	Creedmoor	4	3	0	0
409	Rowland	4	2	0	1,341
410	Lake Lure	3	2	0	1,176
411	Ridgecrest	4	2	0	950
412	Garner	3	2	0	755
413	Milton	4	2	0	212
414	Claremont	4	2	0	185
415	Rtp	3	2	0	162
416	Willow Springs	3	2	0	120
417	Seneca	3	2	0	104
418	Sapphire	3	2	0	81
419	Dunwoody	5	2	0	72
420	Climax	2	2	0	72
421	Todd	2	2	0	70
422	Browns Summit	2	2	0	70
423	Ft Mill	3	2	0	64
424	Black Creek	4	2	0	0
425	Spring Hope	1	1	0	1,307
426	Marble	4	1	0	999
427	Conetoe	3	1	0	990
428	Fletcher	3	1	0	965
429	Conway	3	1	0	887
430	Waxhaw	3	1	0	790
431	Roaring Gap	2	1	0	470
432	Birmingham	4	1	0	331
433	Kernersville	1	1	0	279
434	Jonas Ridge	1	1	0	270
435	Madison	2	1	0	250
436	Crossnore	3	1	0	195
437	Yanceyville	2	1	0	180
438	Maitland	2	1	0	165
439	Novato	1	1	0	138
440	Sophia	1	1	0	119
441	Etowah	2	1	0	75
442	Tampa	2	1	0	74
443	Mt Airy	2	1	0	71
444	San Diego	3	1	0	65
445	Mt Holly	2	1	0	58
446	Monteray	1	1	0	56
447	Patterson	1	1	0	50
448	Horseshoe	1	1	0	25
449	Fairmont	2	0	0	2,837
450	Montreat	1	0	0	798
451	Lake Santeetlah	0	0	0	498
452	Snow Hiil	2	0	0	447
453	Cofield	1	0	0	417
454	Nebo	2	0	0	343
455	Severn	2	0	0	325
456	Canton	1	0	0	300
457	Little Switzerland	1	0	0	300
458	Franklin	2	0	0	270
459	Arden	1	0	0	234
460	Lansing	1	0	0	228
461	Candler	2	0	0	210
462	Davidson	2	0	0	203
463	Oak Ridge	1	0	0	178
464	Bailey	0	0	0	123
465	Cashiers	0	0	0	122
466	Penland	0	0	0	100
467	Mooresboro	0	0	0	96
468	Pilot Mtn	0	0	0	94
469	Blacksburg	1	0	0	67
470	Andrews	0	0	0	53
471	Murphy	2	0	0	53
472	Atlanta	1	0	0	51
473	Westfield	0	0	0	39
474	Lake Toxaway	1	0	0	38
475	Boomer	0	0	0	33
476	Almond	0	0	0	0

Recommended Filtration for North Carolina

Based on the most common contaminants found across North Carolina (Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chloroform), we recommend a reverse osmosis system or high-quality carbon block filter to remove disinfection byproducts and their precursors.

Echo RO System

Removes up to 99.9% of contaminants. The gold standard for drinking water in North Carolina homes.

View RO Systems

Echo Whole-Home Filter

Protect every tap in your home from chlorine, VOCs, and disinfection byproducts.

View Whole-Home Filters

Echo Hydrogen Water Flask

Once your water is clean, supercharge it with molecular hydrogen for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Shop Hydrogen Flask

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Carolina tap water safe to drink?

Water quality varies significantly across North Carolina. Of the 476 cities analyzed, the average city has 8.5 contaminants above EWG health guidelines. The best water quality was found in Fairmont. We recommend checking your specific city's report for detailed information.

What city has the best water in North Carolina?

Based on our analysis, Fairmont has the fewest contaminants above EWG health guidelines in North Carolina, with 0 above guideline levels.

What city has the worst water in North Carolina?

Based on our analysis, Wilmington has the most contaminants above EWG health guidelines in North Carolina, with 22 above guideline levels.

What's the best water filter for North Carolina residents?

For most North Carolina households, we recommend a reverse osmosis (RO) system for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths. The specific recommendation depends on your city's contaminant profile — check your city's report for personalized guidance.

National Water Quality Reports

Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)

Last updated: March 2026

Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.

North Carolina Water Quality Report (2026)