Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Greensboro, North Carolina
Tap water in Greensboro, North Carolina receives a grade of F (51/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by GREENSBORO, CITY OF. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Greensboro's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Greensboro.
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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 11.1 ppt, 11090x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 60.3 ppb, 1004x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 34.5 ppb, 230x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for GREENSBORO, CITY OF (system ID NC0241010) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2025 | Resolved |
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 Greensboro
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Greensboro'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 Greensboro'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
11.1 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
27.7 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
60.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 1004× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
34.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 230× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
21.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 216× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.17 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 103× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.62 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 96× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
27.6 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 69× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.35 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
11.1 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.74 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 42× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.19 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.736 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.4× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.112 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.6× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0833 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.8× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
311.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) Other |
0.72 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.46 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Simazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0421 ppb | 0.1 | 4.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.639 ppb | 3.0 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.632 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
5.85 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.566 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
5.53 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.0 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.153 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.05 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.37 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.0188 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.75 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.1 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.403 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 GREENSBORO, CITY OF.