Is Wilmington tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

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

62/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
2.5 GPG
Hardness
Detected
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in Wilmington

PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Detected

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

PFAS details for Wilmington

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Wilmington

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Wilmington
North Carolina

284,012,840,228,403 · Cape Fear River

Wilmington, NC Water Quality Report

Elevated Risk Updated March 2026 120,000 residents
See Best Filters for Wilmington
62
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
6.5 ppt
Lead
2.5 ppb
Nitrate
0.6 mg/L
Arsenic
0.2 mg/L
Hardness
2.5 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    PFAS have been identified in Wilmington's water at 6.5 parts per trillion. A reverse osmosis system is the most reliable home treatment.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Wilmington's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

62 /100
Moderate
"Good" threshold (70)

Wilmington tap water is sourced from Cape Fear River and treated by Cape Fear Public Utility Authority. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected. Overall purity score: 62/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Wilmington's 3 issues.

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Explore Wilmington Water Data

PFAS in WilmingtonForever chemicals
Lead in WilmingtonLead risk
Wilmington Hard WaterHardness data
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Wilmington Water FAQ

Is Wilmington NC tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Wilmington tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 62/100 (Moderate) on PurityMap for 2026. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected at 6.5 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 Wilmington NC use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Wilmington uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.5 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 Wilmington NC water and what is the TDS level?
Wilmington water hardness is 2.5 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 85 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Wilmington NC drinking water?
Yes. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected in Wilmington water at approximately 6.5 ppt according to EPA UCMR5 monitoring data. A reverse osmosis or NSF P473-certified filter is the most effective residential solution.
What is the best water filter for Wilmington?
Based on Wilmington's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Wilmington: PFAS detected or elevated lead risk. Reverse osmosis is the only residential technology proven to reduce both below detection limits. TDS will also drop significantly.

Nearby Reports

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

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Cape Fear Public Utility Authority CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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