Is Wilson, 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 Wilson.

5 public water systems serve parts of Wilson. The largest, City of Wilson, serves 50,332 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of Wilson

50,332 people · Surface water · EPA ID NC0498010

Buys treated water from Central Nash Water & Sewer.

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 Wilson 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.

Wilson homes and lead pipes

47%

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

12%

built before 1950 (North Carolina 8%)

51%

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

Other water systems serving Wilson

Wilson County Southwest Water District
5,730 people · Purchased groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Lithium above screening level
Wilson County Southeast Water District
4,388 people · Purchased groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
Longleaf Neuro-Medical Treatment Center
200 people · Purchased surface water · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
Millstone Creek Water System
28 people · Groundwater · North Carolina · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS
Rocky Mount 18 mi City of Rocky Mount	City of Rocky Mount	Above limit
Goldsboro 24 mi Wayne Water Districts	Wayne Water Districts	None above limits
Clayton 30 mi Town of Clayton	Town of Clayton	None above limits
Greenville 32 mi Greenville Utilities Commission	Greenville Utilities Commission	None above limits
Wake Forest 38 mi City of Raleigh	City of Raleigh	None above limits
Garner 39 mi Johnston County – West	Johnston County – West	Above limit

Wilson ZIP codes (2)

27893
27896

Questions

Is Wilson tap water safe to drink?

City of Wilson 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 Wilson, NC?

5 public water systems serve parts of Wilson. The largest is City of Wilson (50,332 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Wilson tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Wilson 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 Wilson homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 47% of Wilson 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 Wilson'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.