Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in WILMINGTON, North Carolina
Tap water in WILMINGTON, North Carolina receives a grade of F (56/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CFPUA-WILMINGTON. 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 WILMINGTON's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CFPUA-WILMINGTON (system ID NC0465010) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate 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 WILMINGTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in WILMINGTON'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 WILMINGTON'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 CFPUA-WILMINGTON.