Is Raleigh tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Raleigh's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

82/100
Purity Score
2
Issues Found
1.6 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Raleigh

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Raleigh

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.1 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Raleigh
North Carolina

276,012,760,227,603 · Falls Lake and Lake Benson

Raleigh, NC Water Quality Report

Low Risk Updated March 2026 470,000 residents
See Best Filters for Raleigh
82
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
2 ppb
Nitrate
0.4 mg/L
Arsenic
0.1 mg/L
Hardness
1.6 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Raleigh's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

82 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Raleigh tap water is sourced from Falls Lake and Lake Benson and treated by City of Raleigh Public Utilities. Overall purity score: 82/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Raleigh's 2 issues.

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Raleigh Water FAQ

Is Raleigh NC tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Raleigh tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 82/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Raleigh NC use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Raleigh uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.3 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Raleigh NC water and what is the TDS level?
Raleigh water hardness is 1.6 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 50 ppm (excellent). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Raleigh NC drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Raleigh drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Raleigh?
Based on Raleigh's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Raleigh has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

WilmingtonNorth Carolina — 62/100CharlotteNorth Carolina — 67/100FayettevilleNorth Carolina — 67/100GreensboroNorth Carolina — 82/100DurhamNorth Carolina — 82/100Winston-SalemNorth Carolina — 82/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • City of Raleigh Public Utilities CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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