Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
HARNETT REGIONAL WATER
HARNETT REGIONAL WATER delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 116,892 residents in LILLINGTON, North Carolina using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 910-893-7575.
Is LILLINGTON tap water safe to drink?
HARNETT REGIONAL WATER delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 116,892 residents in LILLINGTON, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 21 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromoacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Bromoform, 1,4-Dioxane, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chlorite, Chromium (hexavalent), 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 LILLINGTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for HARNETT REGIONAL WATER.
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 1.0 ppt, 1000x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) detected at 3.9 ppt, 650x above the EWG health guideline of 0.006 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 29.8 ppb, 497x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact HARNETT REGIONAL WATER
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 LILLINGTON
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 50/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
10.7 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.0 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1000× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
3.9 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 650× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
29.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 497× over |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) PFAS |
2.1 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 350× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
35.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 239× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
19.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 193× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.51 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 184× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 181× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
12.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 127× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.74 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 123× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.6 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 48× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.82 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.34 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.73 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
5.88 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
3.55 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 10× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.82 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 9.4× over |
| Chlorite Disinfection byproduct |
388.3 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 7.8× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0438 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
385.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.054 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.602 ppb | 3.0 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
60.4 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
37.2 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.95 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
29.6 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
20.4 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.45 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.75 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.175 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.125 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.46 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0586 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.53 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.
HARNETT REGIONAL WATER service area
This water system serves 1 community in Harnett County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for LILLINGTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.