Is Chapel Hill, NC tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Orange Water & Sewer Authority. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.

28 public water systems serve parts of Chapel Hill. The largest, Orange Water & Sewer Authority, serves 86,500 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Orange Water & Sewer Authority

86,500 people · Surface water · EPA ID NC0368010

Buys treated water from City of Durham, Chatham County – North, Town of Hillsborough.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA One sample above limit	1.15 ppt	4 ppt	One sample above limit
PFOS One sample above limit	1.2 ppt	4 ppt	One sample above limit
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Orange Water & Sewer Authority results

Across North Carolina, 66 of 285 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 5 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. North Carolina results.

Chapel Hill homes and lead pipes

35%

of homes built before 1980 (North Carolina 34%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (North Carolina 8%)

53%

of households rent (North Carolina 33%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Chapel Hill town (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Chapel Hill

Stoneridge Master Water System
681 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Beechwood Cove/Polks Landing Water System
406 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Chatham S/D Water System
365 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Colvard Farms S/D Water System
365 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Ridgewood MHP
330 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Robin`s Wood Water System
246 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

21 more systems

Northwood S/D Water System
208 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
The Trails S/D Water System
200 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) violationsAlso: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violations
Bingham Woods MHP
190 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Woodbridge S/D Water System
143 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Hill Top MHP
139 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Cedar Terrace Apartments Water System
123 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Wildcat Creek S/D Water System
114 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Chatham Pines LLC
98 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Euglena Junction Water System
96 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Heartwood S/D Water System
94 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
South Grove Subdivision
75 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Riley`s MHP
65 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Oak Grove MHP
64 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sturbridge Village Water System
53 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Foxboro Estates Water System
48 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Cedar Village II Water System
46 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Polks Trail S/D Water System
43 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Mannsfield Condominiums Water System
41 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Cedar Lake Condo Water System
40 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Morris Grove Heights Water System
33 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Homestead MHP
25 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS
Durham 9 mi City of Durham	City of Durham	Above limit
Cary 16 mi Town of Cary	Town of Cary	None above limits
Apex 17 mi Town of Apex	Town of Apex	None above limits
Holly Springs 22 mi Town of Holly Springs	Town of Holly Springs	Above limit
Raleigh 23 mi City of Raleigh	City of Raleigh	None above limits
Burlington 26 mi City of Burlington	City of Burlington	Above limit

Chapel Hill ZIP codes (2)

27514
27599

Questions

Is Chapel Hill tap water safe to drink?

Orange Water & Sewer Authority has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Chapel Hill, NC?

28 public water systems serve parts of Chapel Hill. The largest is Orange Water & Sewer Authority (86,500 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Chapel Hill tap water have PFAS?

Orange Water & Sewer Authority had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do Chapel Hill homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 35% of Chapel Hill homes as built before 1980 (North Carolina: 34%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Orange Water & Sewer Authority's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.