Is Jacksonville, 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 Onslow Water and Sewer Authority.

12 public water systems serve parts of Jacksonville. The largest, Onslow Water and Sewer Authority, serves 156,755 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Onslow Water and Sewer Authority

156,755 people · Groundwater · EPA ID NC0467035

Buys treated water from Northwest Onslow Water Association, City of Jacksonville, Town of Surf City, USMC Camp Lejeune – New River Air Station.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
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 (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1

Full Onslow Water and 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.

Jacksonville homes and lead pipes

37%

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

built before 1950 (North Carolina 8%)

61%

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 Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville
USMC Camp Lejeune – Hadnot Point 37,500 people	28542
USMC Camp Lejeune – Holcomb Blvd 17,000 people	28543

Other water systems serving Jacksonville

City of Jacksonville
49,093 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
No PFAS above limitsAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
USMC Camp Lejeune – Hadnot Point
37,500 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · reported ZIPs here
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violation
USMC Camp Lejeune – Holcomb Blvd
17,000 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits
USMC Camp Lejeune – New River Air Station
11,500 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · reported ZIPs here
Lithium above screening level
Lauradale S/D Water System
2,527 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 2 health-based violations since 2016
Raintree/Summersill Estates #2 Water System
1,539 people · Purchased groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

5 more systems

Osprey Cove 2 Water System
475 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Osprey Cove 1 Water System
475 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
City of Jacksonville – Springfield Apts
385 people · Purchased groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Summersill Estates No 1 Water System
163 people · Purchased groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Southgate MHP
94 people · Purchased groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violations

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS
New Bern 31 mi City of New Bern	City of New Bern	None above limits
Wilmington 45 mi CFPUA-Wilmington	CFPUA-Wilmington	None above limits
Leland 51 mi Brunswick County Water System	Brunswick County Water System	Above limit
Goldsboro 55 mi Wayne Water Districts	Wayne Water Districts	None above limits
Greenville 60 mi Greenville Utilities Commission	Greenville Utilities Commission	None above limits
Wilson 76 mi City of Wilson	City of Wilson	None above limits

Questions

Is Jacksonville tap water safe to drink?

Onslow Water and Sewer Authority had 1 health-based violation 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 Jacksonville, NC?

12 public water systems serve parts of Jacksonville. The largest is Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (156,755 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Jacksonville tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Onslow Water and Sewer Authority had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.

Do Jacksonville homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 37% of Jacksonville 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. Onslow Water and 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.