Is Kernersville, 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 City of Winston-Salem.

12 public water systems serve parts of Kernersville. The largest, City of Winston-Salem, serves 391,900 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of Winston-Salem

391,900 people · Surface water · EPA ID NC0234010

Buys treated water from Davidson Water Inc.

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: 0

Full City of Winston-Salem 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.

Kernersville homes and lead pipes

26%

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

built before 1950 (North Carolina 8%)

40%

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

Other water systems serving Kernersville

Abington S/D Water System
1,506 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Coliform bacteria violation
Graystone/Smokerise Water System
455 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Applegate Water System
442 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Yorktown S/D Water System
272 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
McBride`s MHP
190 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Mikkola Downs S/D Water System
154 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

5 more systems

Deerpath S/D Water System
142 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Shiloh Subdivision
131 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Pine Knolls Water Supply
71 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Peabody Forest S/D Water System
66 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Stonington S/D Water System
58 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS
High Point 9 mi City of High Point	City of High Point	Above limit
Winston-Salem 10 mi City of Winston-Salem	City of Winston-Salem	None above limits
Greensboro 14 mi City of Greensboro	City of Greensboro	Above limit
Thomasville 16 mi City of Thomasville	City of Thomasville	None above limits
Asheboro 31 mi City of Asheboro	City of Asheboro	Above limit
Burlington 34 mi City of Burlington	City of Burlington	Above limit

Kernersville ZIP codes (1)

27284

Questions

Is Kernersville tap water safe to drink?

City of Winston-Salem 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 Kernersville, NC?

12 public water systems serve parts of Kernersville. The largest is City of Winston-Salem (391,900 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Kernersville tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Winston-Salem 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 Kernersville homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 26% of Kernersville 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. City of Winston-Salem'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.