Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CFPUA-WILMINGTON
CFPUA-WILMINGTON delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 198,740 residents in WILMINGTON, 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 910-332-6577.
Is WILMINGTON tap water safe to drink?
CFPUA-WILMINGTON delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 198,740 residents in WILMINGTON, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 22 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Nitrate and nitrite, 1,4-Dioxane, Bromoform, Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX), Chromium (hexavalent), Bromate, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA). 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 WILMINGTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CFPUA-WILMINGTON.
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 0.68 ppt, 680x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 26.3 ppb, 438x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 20.0 ppb, 133x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact CFPUA-WILMINGTON
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 WILMINGTON
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 55/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
5.82 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.68 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 680× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
26.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 438× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
20.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 133× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.99 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 83× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.17 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 72× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.6 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 66× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.06 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.38 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 38× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.51 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.075 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) PFAS |
0.075 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.34 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
4.17 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.32 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.4× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
2.38 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 6.8× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.26 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.5× over |
| Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX) PFAS |
6.29 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.3× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0618 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.1× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
0.239 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 2.4× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.12 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.4× over |
| Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) PFAS |
0.069 ppt | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
103.9 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.044 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.144 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
6.81 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.28 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
2.05 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.69 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.28 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.16 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0146 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0219 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.195 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0465 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
89.4 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.296 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.
CFPUA-WILMINGTON service area
This water system serves 1 community in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for WILMINGTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.