Is Winston-Salem tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Winston-Salem'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

Issues Found

2.5 GPG

Hardness

Not detected

PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Winston-Salem

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Winston-Salem

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Winston-Salem

Fix Your Water — See Recommended Filters

North Carolina

271,012,710,327,104 · Salem Lake and Belews Lake

Winston-Salem, NC Water Quality Report

Low Risk Updated March 2026 249,545 residents

See Best Filters for Winston-Salem

Purity Score

Water Quality Data

PFAS

Not detected

No PFAS detected.

PFAS in Winston-Salem

Lead

Not detected (2.5 ppb)

No lead detected.

Lead in Winston-Salem

Hardness

2.5 gpg (Soft)

Manageable levels.

Hard water in Winston-Salem

Chlorine

Medium

Affects taste and skin. Carbon filter removes it.

Learn about chlorine

TDS

Unknown

High TDS (>500 ppm) may affect taste.

Contaminant Levels

PFAS

Lead

2.5 ppb

Nitrate

0.5 mg/L

Arsenic

0.2 mg/L

Hardness

2.5 gpg

Health Insights

1
Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Winston-Salem's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

82 /100

Good

"Good" threshold (70)

Winston-Salem tap water is sourced from Salem Lake and Belews Lake and treated by City of Winston-Salem Water. Overall purity score: 82/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Winston-Salem's 2 issues.

See Filters

MATCHED TO WINSTON-SALEM'S WATER DATA

Best Water Filters for Winston-Salem, NC (2026)

Matched to Moderate Chlorine in Winston-Salem.

Moderate Chlorine

Best Overall #1 for Winston-Salem

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Pitcher Filter

$80-95

Why this fits Winston-Salem

Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Winston-Salem's water
NSF/ANSI 42 + NSF/ANSI 53 + NSF/ANSI 401 certified
Budget-friendly at $80-95

Pros & Cons +

No installation fill and pour

Removes 365+ contaminants including PFAS

Small capacity 2-3 people

Filter replacements every 4 months

Fix Your Water — Check Price

Best Value

Waterdrop 10UA Under-Sink Filter

Under-Sink Carbon Filter

$40-60

Why this fits Winston-Salem

Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Winston-Salem's water
NSF/ANSI 42 certified
Budget-friendly at $40-60

Pros & Cons +

Very affordable

Easy DIY install no plumber

Does not remove PFAS or hardness

Single point of use only

Check Price on Amazon

Best for Taste

Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO

Tankless Reverse Osmosis

$380-450

Why this fits Winston-Salem

Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Winston-Salem's water
NSF/ANSI 58 + NSF 372 certified
Premium quality at $380-450

Pros & Cons +

No tank saves cabinet space

800 GPD fast flow rate

Higher upfront cost

Filter replacements are proprietary

Check Price on Amazon

Also Recommended

APEC Water Systems ROES-50

Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis

$195-220

Why this fits Winston-Salem

Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Winston-Salem's water
NSF/ANSI 58 certified

Pros & Cons +

5-stage filtration removes 99%+ of contaminants

Long-lasting filters (6-12 month replacement)

Requires under-sink installation

Wastes some water during filtration

Check Price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap may earn from qualifying purchases. Based on latest Winston-Salem water data.

Full Filter Comparison for Winston-Salem

Know exactly what's in YOUR tap

City data shows averages. Your home may differ.

Test Your Water — $25-30

Explore Winston-Salem Water Data

Winston-Salem Water FAQ

Is Winston-Salem NC tap water safe to drink in 2026?

Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem NC use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?

Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem NC water and what is the TDS level?

Winston-Salem water hardness is 2.5 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 80 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.

Has PFAS been found in Winston-Salem NC drinking water?

Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Winston-Salem drinking water.

Nearby Reports

WilmingtonNorth Carolina — 62/100 CharlotteNorth Carolina — 67/100 FayettevilleNorth Carolina — 67/100 RaleighNorth Carolina — 82/100 GreensboroNorth Carolina — 82/100 DurhamNorth Carolina — 82/100

All North Carolina cities

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Data Sources

EPA SDWIS
EWG Tap Water Database
City of Winston-Salem Water CCR
USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

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