Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
DURHAM, CITY OF
DURHAM, CITY OF delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 322,083 residents in DURHAM, North Carolina using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 919-560-4381.
Is DURHAM tap water safe to drink?
DURHAM, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 322,083 residents in DURHAM, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 10 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromochloromethane. 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 DURHAM residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for DURHAM, CITY OF.
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 32.4 ppb, 540x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 28.0 ppb, 280x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 37.1 ppb, 247x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact DURHAM, CITY OF
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 DURHAM
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 55/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
5.33 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
32.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 540× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
28.0 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 280× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
37.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 247× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
13.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 133× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.72 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 95× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
31.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.7 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.09 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 23× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.134 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0177 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
141.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0125 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.81 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.782 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.188 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.98 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.0281 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.52 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.32 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.23 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0468 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.397 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.
DURHAM, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Durham County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for DURHAM water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.