What was found in Sanford's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 2180 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: PINE VILLAGE MHC LLC · 411 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 131.4 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1090.71 µg/L — FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 931 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 253.75 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Styrene | 219.1 µg/L 219% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 100 µg/L Highest in the city: FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 84.775 µg/L 106% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 86.45 µg/L — CAROLINA TRACE WATER SYSTEM · 4,516 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 42.75 µg/L 71% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 33.445 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 38 µg/L — CAROLINA TRACE WATER SYSTEM · 4,516 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 33.72 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 32.11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 29.16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 31.905 µg/L — CAROLINA TRACE WATER SYSTEM · 4,516 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 28.605 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 25.8 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 16.55 µg/L 110% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Highest in the city: CAROLINA TRACE WATER SYSTEM · 4,516 people · 2017 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 12.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.365 µg/L — CAROLINA TRACE WATER SYSTEM · 4,516 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 11.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.8 µg/L — CAROLINA TRACE WATER SYSTEM · 4,516 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 11.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2023 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | 7.6 µg/L 152% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Highest in the city: FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.97 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 3 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.29 pCi/L 46% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: QUAIL RIDGE WATER SYSTEM · 465 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Benzene | 1.6 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.48 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.341 µg/L 4.5% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2014 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.8000 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.3360 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0230 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2024 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0200 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2024 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0160 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2024 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0160 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2024 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0150 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2024 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0094 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0097 µg/L — CAROLINA TRACE WATER SYSTEM · 4,516 people · 2025 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0053 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0077 µg/L — FARM WATER WORKS · 167 people · 2024 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0070 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2024 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SANFORD, CITY OF · 48,350 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0043 mg/L — PINE VILLAGE MHC LLC · 411 people · 2025 | 5/5 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Sanford
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SANFORD, CITY OF | 48,350 |
| CAROLINA TRACE WATER SYSTEM | 4,516 |
| QUAIL RIDGE WATER SYSTEM | 465 |
| PINE VILLAGE MHC LLC | 411 |
| FARM WATER WORKS | 167 |
Frequently asked questions about Sanford tap water
Is Sanford tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 35 contaminants in the water serving Sanford. 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 Sanford?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Sanford, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Sanford's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Sanford include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Toluene, Styrene. The full list, with the level at the main supplier 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.