Is Fayetteville tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Fayetteville's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns including PFAS detected. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

67/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
2 GPG
Hardness
Detected
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in Fayetteville

PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Detected

PFAS are man-made chemicals that do not break down and accumulate in the body.

PFAS details for Fayetteville

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Fayetteville

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Fayetteville
North Carolina

283,012,830,328,304 · Cape Fear River

Fayetteville, NC Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 211,657 residents
67
Purity Score

Health Insights

  • 1
    PFAS have been identified in Fayetteville's water at 4.2 parts per trillion. A reverse osmosis system is the most reliable home treatment.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Fayetteville's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

67 /100
Moderate
"Good" threshold (70)

Fayetteville tap water is sourced from Cape Fear River and treated by Fayetteville Public Works Commission. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected. Overall purity score: 67/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

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Fayetteville Water FAQ

Is Fayetteville NC tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Fayetteville tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 67/100 (Moderate) on PurityMap for 2026. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected at 4.2 ppt. An NSF-certified filter is strongly recommended. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Fayetteville NC use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville NC water and what is the TDS level?
Fayetteville water hardness is 2.0 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 65 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Fayetteville NC drinking water?
Yes. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected in Fayetteville water at approximately 4.2 ppt according to EPA UCMR5 monitoring data. A reverse osmosis or NSF P473-certified filter is the most effective residential solution.

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Fayetteville Public Works Commission CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

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