Is Durham tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Durham'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
2 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Durham

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Durham

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Durham
North Carolina

277,012,770,227,703 · Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir

Durham, NC Water Quality Report

Low Risk Updated March 2026 274,291 residents
See Best Filters for Durham
82
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
2.2 ppb
Nitrate
0.4 mg/L
Arsenic
0.2 mg/L
Hardness
2 gpg

Health Insights

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

Score

82 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Durham tap water is sourced from Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir and treated by City of Durham Water Management. Overall purity score: 82/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Durham's 2 issues.

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Durham Water FAQ

Is Durham NC tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Durham 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 Durham NC use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Durham uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.4 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 Durham NC water and what is the TDS level?
Durham water hardness is 2.0 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 62 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Durham NC drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Durham drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Durham?
Based on Durham's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Durham 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 — 67/100RaleighNorth Carolina — 82/100GreensboroNorth Carolina — 82/100Winston-SalemNorth Carolina — 82/100

All North Carolina cities

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • City of Durham Water Management CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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