Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
GREENSBORO, CITY OF
GREENSBORO, CITY OF delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 319,588 residents in GREENSBORO, 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 336-373-4601.
Is GREENSBORO tap water safe to drink?
GREENSBORO, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 319,588 residents in GREENSBORO, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromoacetic acid, Chlorate. 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 GREENSBORO residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for GREENSBORO, CITY OF.
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.
Contact GREENSBORO, 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 GREENSBORO
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 48/100 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 |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
GREENSBORO, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Guilford County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for GREENSBORO water
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