We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in North Carolina to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington has 22 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 37 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Wilmington water report →Lillington, North Carolina
Lillington has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 35 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lillington water report →Holly Springs, North Carolina
Holly Springs has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 35 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Holly Springs water report →Angier, North Carolina
Angier has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 35 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Angier water report →Coats, North Carolina
Coats has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 35 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Coats water report →Linden, North Carolina
Linden has 21 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 35 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Linden water report →Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Wrightsville Beach has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 38 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Wrightsville Beach water report →Carthage, North Carolina
Carthage has 19 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Carthage water report →Bolivia, North Carolina
Bolivia has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bolivia water report →Oak Island, North Carolina
Oak Island has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Oak Island water report →Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina
Ocean Isle Beach has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ocean Isle Beach water report →City Of Southport, North Carolina
City Of Southport has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full City Of Southport water report →Holden Beach, North Carolina
Holden Beach has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Holden Beach water report →Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Goldsboro water report →Burgaw, North Carolina
Burgaw has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Burgaw water report →Bell Arthur, North Carolina
Bell Arthur has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bell Arthur water report →Seymour Johnson, North Carolina
Seymour Johnson has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Seymour Johnson water report →Ellerbe, North Carolina
Ellerbe has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 31 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ellerbe water report →Rockingham, North Carolina
Rockingham has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Rockingham water report →Dunn, North Carolina
Dunn has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Dunn water report →Falcon, North Carolina
Falcon has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Falcon water report →Fuquay-varina, North Carolina
Fuquay-varina has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fuquay-varina water report →Bald Head Island, North Carolina
Bald Head Island has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bald Head Island water report →Tabor City, North Carolina
Tabor City has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Tabor City water report →Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 32 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Greensboro water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 457 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 29 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 428 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington | NC | 37 | 22 | 1 | 180,516 |
| 2 | Lillington | NC | 35 | 21 | 1 | 109,415 |
| 3 | Holly Springs | NC | 35 | 21 | 2 | 45,058 |
| 4 | Angier | NC | 35 | 21 | 2 | 8,468 |
| 5 | Coats | NC | 35 | 21 | 1 | 2,831 |
| 6 | Linden | NC | 35 | 21 | 1 | 2,077 |
| 7 | Wrightsville Beach | NC | 38 | 20 | 1 | 5,300 |
| 8 | Carthage | NC | 33 | 19 | 0 | 29,509 |
| 9 | Bolivia | NC | 33 | 18 | 2 | 152,030 |
| 10 | Oak Island | NC | 33 | 18 | 1 | 23,896 |
| 11 | Ocean Isle Beach | NC | 33 | 18 | 2 | 7,925 |
| 12 | City Of Southport | NC | 33 | 18 | 2 | 6,447 |
| 13 | Holden Beach | NC | 33 | 18 | 2 | 6,358 |
| 14 | Goldsboro | NC | 31 | 17 | 1 | 34,959 |
| 15 | Burgaw | NC | 31 | 17 | 0 | 30,506 |
| 16 | Bell Arthur | NC | 31 | 17 | 0 | 10,635 |
| 17 | Seymour Johnson | NC | 31 | 17 | 1 | 6,875 |
| 18 | Ellerbe | NC | 31 | 17 | 0 | 1,640 |
| 19 | Rockingham | NC | 30 | 17 | 0 | 22,021 |
| 20 | Dunn | NC | 30 | 17 | 2 | 12,088 |
| 21 | Falcon | NC | 30 | 17 | 2 | 714 |
| 22 | Fuquay-varina | NC | 27 | 17 | 2 | 39,065 |
| 23 | Bald Head Island | NC | 33 | 16 | 1 | 3,291 |
| 24 | Tabor City | NC | 33 | 16 | 0 | 3,277 |
| 25 | Greensboro | NC | 32 | 16 | 2 | 318,057 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in North Carolina?
Based on 2026 data, Wilmington, NC has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 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.
