What was found in Oak Ridge's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 8300 µg/L 83% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 20/25 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 8300 µg/L 83% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 17/25 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 2000 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 17/25 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 1170 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 20/25 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 109 pCi/L 727% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 pCi/L | 4/25 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 88.6 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 17/25 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 59.6 µg/L 199% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 30 µg/L | 17/25 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 30 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 12/25 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 28 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 18.6 µg/L 124% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 14/25 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 18 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 5/25 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 17 µg/L 283% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 6 µg/L | 3/25 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/25 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 9.4 pCi/L 188% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 pCi/L | 12/25 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/25 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 5.31 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/25 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 2.8 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 2/25 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/25 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/25 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/25 | SYR4 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | 1.1 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.6700 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Chlordane | 0.4000 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.0210 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Endrin | 0.0180 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0155 mg/L 103% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 25/25 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Oak Ridge
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D | 576 |
| WILSON FARMS/AUBURNDALE | 465 |
| RIVER OAKS S/D | 409 |
| RIDGECREST/BAKERSFIELD S/D | 343 |
| THE ESTATES OF OAK RIDGE LAKE | 300 |
| WEATHERSTONE S/D | 269 |
| TWELVE OAKS S/D | 234 |
| PEPPER RIDGE S/D | 185 |
| OAK RIDGE MILITARY ACADEMY | 150 |
| SMOKE RIDGE ESTATES | 135 |
| HONEYCUTT RESERVE | 132 |
| BALLARD FARMS S/D | 125 |
| KNIGHT`S LANDING S/D | 117 |
| WILLARD OAKS S/D | 112 |
| MERRIMAN ESTATES/BILLET PLACE | 107 |
| LINVILLE OAKS S/D | 104 |
| CRUTCHFIELD FARMS S/D | 84 |
| FOXBURY MEADOWS S/D | 79 |
| PEARMAN ESTATES | 76 |
| THATCHER WOODS | 72 |
| FOXBURY S/D | 63 |
| KENSINGTON PLACE S/D | 61 |
| HUNTING RIDGE S/D | 58 |
| AUTUMN RIDGE S/D | 56 |
| VILLAGE WOODS DEVELOPMENT | 51 |
Frequently asked questions about Oak Ridge tap water
Is Oak Ridge tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Oak Ridge. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Oak Ridge?
25 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Oak Ridge, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Oak Ridge's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Oak Ridge include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.