Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CHARLOTTE WATER
CHARLOTTE WATER delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 1,163,701 residents in CHARLOTTE, North Carolina using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline.
Is CHARLOTTE tap water safe to drink?
CHARLOTTE WATER 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 1,163,701 residents in CHARLOTTE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 10 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). 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 CHARLOTTE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CHARLOTTE WATER.
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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 24.8 ppb, 413x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 40.8 ppb, 272x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 15.3 ppb, 153x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact CHARLOTTE WATER
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 CHARLOTTE
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
24.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 413× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
40.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 272× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
15.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 153× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.91 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 149× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
29.3 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 73× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.83 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.44 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 47× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.62 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0668 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.119 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1.3× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0156 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.11 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
3.91 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.555 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.733 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.714 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0107 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0325 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.587 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.
CHARLOTTE WATER service area
This water system serves 1 community in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for CHARLOTTE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.