What was found in Wilmington'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 220.8 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1559 µg/L — MASON LANDING S/D · 61 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 930 µg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 740 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 128.7 µg/L 858% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 105.4 µg/L 132% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 121.2 µg/L — OYSTER POINT S/D · 99 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 8.51 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 76.8 µg/L — THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM · 11,587 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 38.48 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 56.45 µg/L — OYSTER POINT S/D · 99 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 43 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 50.6525 µg/L — OYSTER POINT S/D · 99 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 31.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 44.5625 µg/L — OYSTER POINT S/D · 99 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 29.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 32.6 µg/L — THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM · 11,587 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 17.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.5 µg/L — OYSTER POINT S/D · 99 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 22.6 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 17.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20 µg/L — OYSTER POINT S/D · 99 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 17.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM · 11,587 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 13.645 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM · 11,587 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 7.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.2 µg/L — THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM · 11,587 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.48 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9 µg/L — OYSTER POINT S/D · 99 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 7.42 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM · 11,587 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 4.35 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 3.8293 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: GLYNNWOOD MHP · 208 people · 2016 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 2.849 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: SOUTH RIDGE MHP · 115 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.7 µg/L — OYSTER POINT S/D · 99 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.3 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.96 pCi/L 13% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.6 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.4715 pCi/L 29% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 1.38 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 1.2 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM · 11,587 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 1 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Hfpo-Da | 0.0084 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM · 11,587 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2028
Highest in the city: 0.0060 mg/L — SOUTH RIDGE MHP · 115 people · 2025 | 7/7 | LCR |
| PFBS | 0.0046 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM · 11,587 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CFPUA-WILMINGTON · 212,227 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
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 Wilmington
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CFPUA-WILMINGTON | 212,227 |
| THE CAPE MASTER SYSTEM | 11,587 |
| FIGURE 8 ISLAND | 999 |
| GLYNNWOOD MHP | 208 |
| SOUTH RIDGE MHP | 115 |
| OYSTER POINT S/D | 99 |
| MASON LANDING S/D | 61 |
Frequently asked questions about Wilmington tap water
Is Wilmington tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 34 contaminants in the water serving Wilmington. 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 Wilmington?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Wilmington, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Wilmington's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Wilmington include Copper, Nitrate, Fluoride, Lead, TTHM. 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.