Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMM
FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMM delivers tap water graded F (51/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 215,590 residents in FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 910-223-4710.
Is FAYETTEVILLE tap water safe to drink?
FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMM delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (51/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 215,590 residents in FAYETTEVILLE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Bromoform, 1,4-Dioxane, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX). 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 FAYETTEVILLE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMM.
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 10.7 ppt, 10660x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 43.3 ppb, 722x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 47.1 ppb, 314x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMM
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 FAYETTEVILLE
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 51/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
10.7 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
9.92 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
21.5 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
43.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 722× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
47.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 314× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
14.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 245× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
23.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 231× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.03 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 134× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
12.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 127× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.2 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.84 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
15.6 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
4.01 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.0× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.6 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 4.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0452 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.3× over |
| Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX) PFAS |
1.92 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.9× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) Other |
0.77 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
152.9 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.4 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.3 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.76 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
9.66 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.24 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
8.84 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.163 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
5.57 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
3.57 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
6.66 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0463 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.649 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.
FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
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