Is Kannapolis Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Short answer: In the 2023–2025 records we hold for Kannapolis, PFOS had a sample above a 2024 EPA limit (not a violation: the limit is judged on a yearly average, due 2029), and a health-based violation is on record (EPA SDWIS). 1 substance was detected and 30 were tested and not detected. The water is from City of Kannapolis, serving 56,050 residents.
- Year 2026
- Utility City of Kannapolis
- Coverage 32 records
- Updated 2026-10-15
Where Kannapolis’ water comes from
- Utility
- City of Kannapolis
- Water system
- KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF · NC0180065
- Source water
- Surface water
- Disinfectant
- not on record
- Population served
- 56,050
- Reporting period
- Sampled 2023–2025
- Monitoring coverage
- 32 records · 3 of 4 groups measured
- Service lines
- 13,350 unknown material (EPA inventory, 2026Q2)
EPA lists this system for the city. Your water bill or annual water quality report names your actual supplier. Source: EPA SDWIS 2026Q2.
- KANNAPOLIS, CITY OFThis reportNC0180065 · 56,050 served
- 1Source
Surface water
- 2Treatment
The treatment details are not on record.
- 3Distribution
Mains, then your building’s service line.
- 4Your tap
Plumbing inside the building is outside this record.
Kannapolis water in four numbers
PFOS had a sample above a 2024 EPA limit (not a violation: the limit is judged on a yearly average, due 2029); a past health-based violation (E. coli) is on record.
2 detected results
Each bar runs to the named reference; the tick marks it. Open a row for five layers: measured, compared, meaning, where it matters, what to do.Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)Above EPA's 2024 limit (one sample) · Federal MCL4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)5.4ng/L
5.4 ng/L, sampled 2024-03-13 to 2024-12-04. EPA UCMR 5.
4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024): a legal limit. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation. EPA health goal (MCLG): 0.
One EPA sample measured 5.4 ng/L, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 (PFOA/PFOS)).
E. coliAbove limit · Federal MCLFederal MCL—
Detected; the record gives no value, sampled 2026. EPA SDWIS violations.
Federal MCL: a legal limit.
Exceeded the federal E. coli limit, 2026 (Resolved).
Where it enters is not in this record.
Test your own tap first: a certified lab result shows what reaches your glass.
30 others tested, none detectedshow
- 11Cl-PF3OUdS
- 8:2 FTS
- 4:2 FTS
- 6:2 FTS
- ADONA
- 9Cl-PF3ONS
- HFPO-DA (GenX)
- Lead (90th percentile)
- Lithium
- NEtFOSAA
- NMeFOSAA
- NFDHA
- PFEESA
- PFMPA
- PFMBA
- PFBS
- PFBA
- PFDA
- PFDoA
- PFHpS
- PFHpA
- PFHxS
- PFHxA
- PFNA
- PFOA
- PFPeS
- PFPeA
- PFTA
- PFTrDA
- PFUnA
KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF (EPA PWSID NC0180065) delivers surface water to 56,050 residents. This report reflects 29 individual PFAS result(s) from the source UCMR5 observations and the latest Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile result. Water hardness and disinfectant type are pending the utility's own annual report.
1health-based violation in the last 10 years
From EPA SDWIS. Counted once per contaminant per year, as in the Track record score.
No result is not a pass. Your utility's annual water quality report may list them, and a certified lab test covers your own tap.
Health-based violations, last 10 years
Every filing is listed; the Track record score counts at most one per contaminant per year.
- Revised Total Coliform Rule
Resolved
- Revised Total Coliform RuleMCL
to Resolved
Your tap can differ from the city record
The record describes water leaving treatment and samples across the system. Pipes, solder and fixtures inside a building can add lead the record can’t see, especially in older buildings with lead service lines.
Test your water- CityTreated water
Measured in this report
- MainsDistribution network
Sampled across the system
- BuildingService line and plumbing
Not in this record
- TapYour glass
Only a tap test measures it
Water testing in Kannapolis, NC
- 01Test
Know what comes from your tap, starting with a first-draw lead sample.
- 02Match
Compare each result with its named reference in our test reader.
- 03Treat
Choose a technology certified for what your test found.
How to test your tap water at home →
North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health certifies the labs that test drinking water in North Carolina. Find a certified lab in North Carolina ↗ · What lab tests cost →
What can reduce what was found here
Finding → technology → certification → product, in that order. The reference type carries the meaning; there is no severity score.| Finding | Reference type | Technology | Certification to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)5.4 ng/L | Federal MCL | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 (PFOA/PFOS) |
Filters for the PFAS found in Kannapolis water
Affiliate linksPurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure★ Best choice: Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200), certified for PFOS.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200) | TreatsPFOSPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | TreatsPFOSPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | CountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | TreatsPFOSPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
See all 12 drinking-water options for PFAS
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | Reverse osmosisSmartFlow® Reverse Osmosis | TreatsPFOSTechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 (includes P473), WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOSPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOSPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | TreatsPFOSPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | TreatsPFOSPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | TreatsPFOSPrice$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOS | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RO5004F Tankless Reverse Osmosis System with UVUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOS | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisWaterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis System | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOS | See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
★ Best choice: HealthShield™, certified for PFOS.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Whole-houseHealthShield™ | TreatsPFOSPrice$$$$ | Certified for PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOS, found in Kannapolis’ record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| $ Budget pick | Whole-houseiSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilterUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Price$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOS | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
PurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Choose your situation
Older buildings may have lead service lines, solder or fixtures. Kannapolis’ utility reported 13,350 service lines of unknown material in EPA’s inventory, so only a tap test tells you. Test first-draw water, then filter if needed.
1 of 29 PFAS tested was detected in Kannapolis’ record (PFOS 5.4 ng/L); 1 above its limit. If PFAS matters to you, a filter certification names each compound it covers.
Most utilities keep chlorine or chloramine in the pipes. A carbon filter certified for taste and odor reduces either; your utility can tell you which it uses.
Your utility’s annual water quality report usually lists hardness; a test strip also measures it.
Reverse osmosis reduces many dissolved contaminants, including lead and minerals, at a single faucet, with some water sent to drain.
Kannapolis tap water FAQ
Get one email when Kannapolis’ record changes.
One email when a new sampling round is published, a result moves above or below its reference, or the system's score changes.Is Kannapolis tap water safe to drink?
PurityMap does not give a safe/unsafe verdict; it shows what the public records measured. For Kannapolis, PFOS 5.4 ng/L was measured in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024 (not a violation: the limit is judged on a yearly average, due 2029); one health-based violation is on record (E. coli). KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF (PWSID NC0180065) has a Purity Score of 68/100 (confidence: moderate), assessed at the water-system level and computed only from contaminants that were measured. Water can change in your own pipes, so a certified test is the only way to know what comes out of your tap. What we found →
Who provides tap water in Kannapolis?
KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF (PWS ID NC0180065) is the public water system on record for Kannapolis, North Carolina, serving about 56,050 people. Confirm the utility on your water bill before acting on a specific finding. Water utility →
Where does Kannapolis get its drinking water?
Surface water (primary source of record in EPA SDWIS). Water utility →
Are PFAS "forever chemicals" in Kannapolis's water?
Yes. In EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2024-03-13 to 2024-12-04), PFOS was measured at 5.4 ng/L in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation. Reverse osmosis and filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA/PFOS reduce them at the tap. What we found →
Is there lead in Kannapolis's tap water?
Lead is not in Kannapolis's current published record. Lead usually enters from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so a certified home test is the way to know yours. Your household →
Has Kannapolis's water system had violations?
The federal SDWIS record lists a health-based violation for KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF within about the last ten years: E. coli (2026). The findings above show each one's status. At a glance →
What does the latest Kannapolis water report show?
PurityMap's current record for Kannapolis holds 32 findings: 2 above a reference and 30 not detected. Each finding links to its dated public record; a parameter that was never monitored is shown as pending, not as a pass. Records →
32 records, each traceable
- EPA UCMR 5
- EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule)
- EPA SDWIS violations
UCMR5 Analytical Results
UCMR5 Analytical Results: KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF (NC0180065)
US EPA
State SDWIS Compliance Record
Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF (NC0180065)
US EPA SDWIS
State SDWIS Compliance Record
EPA SDWIS Violations & Enforcement: KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF (NC0180065)
US EPA SDWIS
Methodology: how we analyze water. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the PurityMap Editorial Team before publication.
How PurityMap reads Kannapolis’ water
- 01Source data
EPA SDWIS, EPA UCMR 5 and utility reports, each dated and linked.
- 02Normalize
Units converted to one basis; a non-detect kept distinct from zero.
- 03Classify
Each result tagged by reference type: MCL, action level, screening level or aesthetic.
- 04Compare to the named reference
Every value sits against its own reference, never a blended one.
- 05Score
Measured subjects summarised at the water-system level; an open health-based violation caps the score.
- 06Match treatment
Treatment is matched to what was found; a product is called certified only when its current certification names it.
What the Purity Score means: a summary of this water system’s published record, capped while a health-based violation is open. It is not a test of any tap. KANNAPOLIS, CITY OF · PWSID NC0180065 · Purity Score 68/100 (Fair) · Confidence: moderate · Assessed at the water-system level
Full methodology →Something off with your water's smell, color or taste?
Start with the hot-or-cold tap check. Where City of Kannapolis reported something related, it's shown below.
- Rotten-egg smell
- Cloudy or milky water
- Chlorine smell
- Brown or yellow water
- Metallic taste
Lead at City of Kannapolis: not detected (90th percentile, 2023–2025 monitoring period). Lead has no taste, so a taste neither shows nor rules it out.