Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY
ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY delivers tap water graded C (67/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 86,500 residents in CARRBORO, North Carolina using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 919-537-4216.
Is CARRBORO tap water safe to drink?
ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 86,500 residents in CARRBORO, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Chlorate, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromoacetic acid. 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY (system ID NC0368010) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for CARRBORO residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY.
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 13.8 ppb, 229x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 21.2 ppb, 141x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 11.4 ppb, 114x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY
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 CARRBORO
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 67/100 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 |
8.92 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.9 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
13.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 229× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
21.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 141× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
11.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 114× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.45 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 91× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.8 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
13.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 34× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.31 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.94 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
440.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.04 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.0× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.19 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.4× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0406 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.127 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0454 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.305 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.189 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0623 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.517 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.
ORANGE WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY service area
This water system serves 1 community in Orange County, North Carolina. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for CARRBORO water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.