Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
BRUNSWICK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM
BRUNSWICK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 142,227 residents in LELAND, North Carolina using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 910-253-2657.
Is LELAND tap water safe to drink?
BRUNSWICK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 142,227 residents in LELAND, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 18 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Chlorite, Bromoform, Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX), Chromium (hexavalent), 1,4-Dioxane, Nitrate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for LELAND residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for BRUNSWICK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 3.37 ppt, 3367x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 31.1 ppb, 518x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 41.3 ppb, 275x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact BRUNSWICK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for LELAND
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 53/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
5.24 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
10.5 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
3.37 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 3367× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
31.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 518× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
41.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 275× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
21.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 211× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
12.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 208× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.25 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 142× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 109× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.2 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
14.7 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 37× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.91 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
473.5 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 9.5× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.15 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.3× over |
| Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX) PFAS |
5.71 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.7× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.103 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.78 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 5.1× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.578 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 4.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
96.1 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) Other |
1.16 ppt | 9.0 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
5.73 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.55 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.403 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.156 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
5.68 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
5.65 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
4.4 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
3.2 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.108 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.77 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.115 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.59 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.055 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
BRUNSWICK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Brunswick County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for LELAND water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.