Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
JOHNSTON CO-WEST
JOHNSTON CO-WEST delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 92,365 residents in WILSON MILLS, 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 919-938-5826.
Is WILSON MILLS tap water safe to drink?
JOHNSTON CO-WEST 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 92,365 residents in WILSON MILLS, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Chromium (hexavalent), Bromoform, 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 WILSON MILLS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for JOHNSTON CO-WEST.
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 0.571 ppt, 571x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 30.2 ppb, 503x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 31.9 ppb, 213x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact JOHNSTON CO-WEST
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 WILSON MILLS
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 |
4.54 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.571 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 571× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
30.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 503× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
31.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 213× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
17.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 178× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
9.52 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 159× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.0 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 100× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.55 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 66× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.96 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 50× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.85 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 43× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.18 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 41× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
13.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.104 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.97 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.9× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
404.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.9× over |
| Simazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.06 ppb | 0.1 | 4.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.029 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0658 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX) PFAS |
0.067 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.56 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
17.9 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
15.4 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
12.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.289 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0938 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0496 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.288 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.265 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
JOHNSTON CO-WEST service area
This water system serves 1 community in Johnston County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for WILSON MILLS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.