Is Wake Forest, 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 Raleigh. 5 PFAS were detected below the limits.

32 public water systems serve parts of Wake Forest. The largest, City of Raleigh, serves 650,000 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of Raleigh

650,000 people · Surface water · EPA ID NC0392010

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS One sample above limit	2.73 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 (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 Raleigh 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.

Wake Forest homes and lead pipes

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

built before 1950 (North Carolina 8%)

26%

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. How to check your own line.

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

Other water systems serving Wake Forest

New Light Master Water System
2,619 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Deerchase S/D Water System
757 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Cotesworth Down S/D Water System
510 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Thompson Mills S/D Water System
460 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Matherly S/D Water System
353 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Blackstone Meadows Water System
246 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

25 more systems

Crescent Ridge S/D Water System
242 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Greycliff Master Water System
235 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Galloway S/D Water System
231 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Tuckahoe S/D Water System
221 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Camberly S/D Water System
203 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Jones Dairy Farm S/D Water System
175 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Berklee Reserve Water System
123 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Mill Race Water System
122 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Harrison Ridge Subdivision
117 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
La Ventana S/D Water System
112 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Sunset Manor S/D Water System
97 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Windemere S/D Water System
96 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
A Country Place Water System
89 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Chesterfield Village Water System
89 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Kingston Manor S/D Water System
88 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Old Farm Crossing S/D Water System
84 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Phillips Landing S/D Water System
81 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Vernon Place S/D Water System
64 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Avalyn S/D Water System
58 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Bay Laurel S/D Water System
58 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Yardley S/D Water System
56 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Ethan Meadows S/D Water System
51 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
Remington Forest S/D Water System
45 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
White Flag at Deerchase S/D Water System
26 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Whispering Pines MHP
25 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS
Raleigh 12 mi City of Raleigh	City of Raleigh	None above limits
Durham 20 mi City of Durham	City of Durham	Above limit
Garner 21 mi Johnston County – West	Johnston County – West	Above limit
Cary 21 mi Town of Cary	Town of Cary	None above limits
Clayton 24 mi Town of Clayton	Town of Clayton	None above limits
Apex 26 mi Town of Apex	Town of Apex	None above limits

Wake Forest ZIP codes (1)

27587

Questions

Is Wake Forest tap water safe to drink?

City of Raleigh 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 Wake Forest, NC?

32 public water systems serve parts of Wake Forest. The largest is City of Raleigh (650,000 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Wake Forest tap water have PFAS?

City of Raleigh had 5 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do Wake Forest homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 9% of Wake Forest 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 Raleigh'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.