Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
BURLINGTON, CITY OF
BURLINGTON, CITY OF delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 61,365 residents in BURLINGTON, North Carolina using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 336-222-5130.
Is BURLINGTON tap water safe to drink?
BURLINGTON, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 61,365 residents in BURLINGTON, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent). 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 BURLINGTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for BURLINGTON, CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 44.7 ppb, 746x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.61 ppt, 610x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 31.9 ppb, 319x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact BURLINGTON, CITY OF
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 BURLINGTON
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 48/100 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 |
7.01 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
10.4 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
44.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 746× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.61 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 610× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
31.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 319× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
35.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 234× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.9 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 150× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 127× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.53 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 109× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.65 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 108× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
18.5 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 92× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
27.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 68× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.33 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0519 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.6× over |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.8 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
99.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
9.03 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.711 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.138 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.2 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.25 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.8 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.54 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0668 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.726 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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.
BURLINGTON, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Alamance County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BURLINGTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.