Is Fayetteville, NC tap water safe?

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

Fayetteville Public Works Commission, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA, PFOS) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

18 public water systems serve parts of Fayetteville. The largest, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, serves 226,441 people, and 4 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Fayetteville Public Works Commission

226,441 people · Surface water · EPA ID NC0326010

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	8.45 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	16.9 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Rounds to the limit	11.3 ppt	10 ppt	Rounds to the limit
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.

For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 97% of the North Carolina systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 98% of the North Carolina systems EPA tested.

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 Fayetteville Public Works Commission 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.

Fayetteville homes and lead pipes

44%

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 Fayetteville city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Fayetteville
Fayetteville Public Works Commission 226,441 people	28301, 28303, 28304, 28305, 28307, 28311, 28314
Old North Utilities Services/Ft Bragg 65,000 people	28310

Other water systems serving Fayetteville

Old North Utilities Services/Ft Bragg
65,000 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS above limit · PFHxS detected
Brookwood Community Water System
15,380 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS above limit · PFHxS above limit · PFAS Hazard Index above limit
Cliffdale West Water System
15,220 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS above limit · Arsenic violation · PFHxS detected
Braxton Hills/Simmons Heights Water System
680 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Radium (combined 226/228) violation
Mill Creek S/D Water System
523 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Stoney Point WS/Fayetteville Pwc Water System
515 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

11 more systems

Tanglewood Estates S/D Water System
309 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Rain Tree II Fayetteville Pwc Water System
292 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Tanglewood South Mhpfayetteville Pwc Water System
259 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
New Town Apartments LLC
258 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
South Point SD Water System
255 people · Purchased groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Coliform bacteria violation
Eastgate SD Fayetteville Pwc Water System
205 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Copeland Acres S/D Water System
200 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Brettonwood Hills S/D Water System
187 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Kelly Hill S/D Water System
109 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Woodland Run Mh S/D Water System
108 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Raintree MHP
85 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Radium (combined 226/228) violations

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS
Sanford 30 mi City of Sanford	City of Sanford	Above limit
Fuquay-Varina 38 mi Town of Fuquay-Varina	Town of Fuquay-Varina	None above limits
Holly Springs 40 mi Town of Holly Springs	Town of Holly Springs	Above limit
Apex 45 mi Town of Apex	Town of Apex	None above limits
Garner 47 mi Johnston County – West	Johnston County – West	Above limit
Cary 49 mi Town of Cary	Town of Cary	None above limits

Questions

Is Fayetteville tap water safe to drink?

Fayetteville Public Works Commission has had no health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. 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 Fayetteville, NC?

18 public water systems serve parts of Fayetteville. The largest is Fayetteville Public Works Commission (226,441 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Fayetteville tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA and PFOS at Fayetteville Public Works Commission. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do Fayetteville homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 44% of Fayetteville 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. Fayetteville Public Works Commission'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.