Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in CARRBORO, North Carolina
Tap water in CARRBORO, North Carolina receives a grade of D (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in CARRBORO's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving CARRBORO.
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 13.8 ppb, 229x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 21.2 ppb, 141x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 11.4 ppb, 114x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY (system ID NC0368010) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for CARRBORO
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in CARRBORO's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in CARRBORO's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
8.92 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.9 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
13.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 229× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
21.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 141× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
11.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 114× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.45 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 91× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.8 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
13.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 34× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.31 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.94 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
440.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.04 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.0× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.19 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.4× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0406 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.127 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0454 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.305 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.189 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0623 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.517 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY.