North Carolina
North Carolina sits in the South and draws its water primarily from rivers, reservoirs, and coastal aquifers. With roughly 10.7 million residents, the state has a developing water reuse program, reusing an estimated 8% of its treated wastewater.
North Carolinawater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in North Carolina
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 298 |
| TTHM | 81 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 47 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 42 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 23 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | 15 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
The GenX/PFAS crisis on the Cape Fear River made North Carolina a national contamination case study.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, North Carolina currently tracks around severe to extreme conditions. North Carolina has 1,963 community water systems serving about 10 million people; EPA records show 471 of them (24%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of North Carolina in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 123 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 10.3 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 5.8%
- Irrigation share
- 3.2%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~8%
Primary water sources
- ≈ rivers
- ≈ reservoirs
- ≈ coastal aquifers
Common questions
Is tap water safe in North Carolina?
North Carolina has 1,963 community water systems serving about 10 million people. EPA records show 471 of them (24%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 25 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in North Carolina's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
How much water does North Carolina use per person?
Public water systems in North Carolina withdraw about 123 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 5.8% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in North Carolina?
As of 2026-06-09, 100% of North Carolina is in drought (D1+) and 89.8% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in North Carolina
19 trackedCharlotte
Charlotte, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Raleigh
Raleigh, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
West Raleigh
West Raleigh, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Greensboro
Greensboro, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Durham
Durham, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Fayetteville
Fayetteville, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Cary
Cary, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Wilmington
Wilmington, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
High Point
High Point, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Greenville
Greenville, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Asheville
Asheville, NC water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in North Carolina
PFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
ExploreSaltwater Intrusion
As coastal aquifers are over-pumped and seas rise, saltwater pushes inland and contaminates freshwater supplies for cities from Florida to California.
ExploreAging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreAnalysis featuring North Carolina
Summer 2026 Drought Check: The Crisis Hits the East Coast
Delaware is entirely in severe-or-worse drought and the Mid-Atlantic is parched — a reminder that the water crisis is no longer just a Western story.
Read analysisThe EPA Set PFAS Limits. Now Utilities Face the Bill.
The first national limits on 'forever chemicals' will force thousands of water systems to test for and remove PFAS — at a cost of billions.
Read analysis