Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Charlotte, North Carolina
Tap water in Charlotte, North Carolina receives a grade of D (65/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CHARLOTTE 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Charlotte's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Charlotte.
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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CHARLOTTE WATER (system ID NC0160010) 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 Charlotte
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Charlotte'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 Charlotte'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 CHARLOTTE WATER.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Charlotte's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: