Wake County Water Quality: 947 Violations (NC)
61 water systems · 32 ZIP codes · Home Safety Score 63/100 (C) · 29 of 54 tracked ZIP records scored · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
Violation Trend
EPA violations across water systems in Wake County.
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Find the Right Filter →Water Quality Overview
Wake County has 61 community water systems across 32 directly mapped ZIP records. The systems report serving approximately 1,714,587 people. The available records contain 947 EPA violations, including 87 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 9% of all violations in Wake County. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 87 | 9.2% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 860 | 90.8% |
| Total | 947 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report.
Cities with Most Violations
| Rank | City | Violations | Health-Based | ZIP Codes | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raleigh | 448 | 37 | 17 | 560,455 |
| 2 | Apex | 144 | 5 | 3 | 91,710 |
| 3 | Knightdale | 82 | 22 | 1 | 33,750 |
| 4 | Garner | 80 | 9 | 1 | 55,201 |
| 5 | Cary | 47 | 4 | 4 | 167,694 |
| 6 | Wake Forest | 47 | 4 | 1 | 81,902 |
| 7 | Morrisville | 40 | 1 | 1 | 39,442 |
| 8 | Wendell | 19 | 2 | 1 | 26,745 |
| 9 | New Hill | 16 | 2 | 1 | 5,044 |
| 10 | Holly Springs | 14 | 0 | 1 | 45,993 |
Violation Trend
Year-by-year EPA violations across water systems in Wake County:
| Year | Total | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 9 | 9 |
| 2023 | 47 | 47 |
| 2024 | 26 | 26 |
| 2025 | 7 | 7 |
Most Common Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 184 | 21 | No |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 56 | 9 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 44 | 17 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 37 | 17 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 37 | 9 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 32 | 11 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 28 | 14 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 26 | 12 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 25 | 12 | No |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 25 | 9 | Yes |
Water Data and the Home Safety Score
This page reports EPA water-system facts without converting the broader Home Safety Score into a drinking-water grade. The county Home Safety grade (C) is a separate multi-source index that also requires PFAS screening, radon, and annual air-quality evidence. Check each ZIP report for the versioned score and its component coverage.
Water Systems in Wake County
Wake County is served by 61 community water systems, averaging 1.1 systems per ZIP code. Each system is independently regulated and tested by the EPA. Larger systems serving more people typically have more extensive monitoring requirements.
Water systems in Wake County source water from a mix of surface water (rivers, reservoirs) and groundwater (wells, aquifers). Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be detected.
How to Check Your Water in Wake County
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the Home Safety Score is shown separately with its model version
Request your CCR — every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test — certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400) can detect contaminants not covered by routine testing
Consider filtration — NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
Check for lead — homes built before 1986 should test for lead regardless of utility compliance
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 320 enforcement actions against water systems in Wake County. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance and administrative orders to formal penalties. Systems under enforcement are required to remediate violations and may face ongoing monitoring requirements.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Source publication schedules vary. See the page source and verification fields for available timing evidence.
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Wake County
Water quality varies across Wake County's 32 ZIP codes. Check your specific ZIP for detailed contaminant data.
| ZIP Code | City | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27603 | Raleigh | 279 | 18 | View → |
| 27539 | Apex | 131 | 1 | View → |
| 27545 | Knightdale | 82 | 22 | View → |
| 27529 | Garner | 80 | 9 | View → |
| 27587 | Wake Forest | 47 | 4 | View → |
| 27610 | Raleigh | 46 | 6 | View → |
| 27606 | Raleigh | 43 | 10 | View → |
| 27560 | Morrisville | 40 | 1 | View → |
| 27614 | Raleigh | 26 | 1 | View → |
| 27519 | Cary | 25 | 1 | View → |
| 27591 | Wendell | 19 | 2 | View → |
| 27562 | New Hill | 16 | 2 | View → |
| 27613 | Raleigh | 16 | 0 | View → |
| 27615 | Raleigh | 14 | 0 | View → |
| 27540 | Holly Springs | 14 | 0 | View → |
| 27616 | Raleigh | 14 | 1 | View → |
| 27518 | Cary | 12 | 1 | View → |
| 27523 | Apex | 10 | 3 | View → |
| 27571 | Rolesville | 10 | 1 | View → |
| 27513 | Cary | 7 | 1 | View → |
What are EPA health violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - the legal limit designed to protect human health. Wake County has 87 such violations. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Water facts and the Home Safety Score
The score shown here is the broader Home Safety Score, not a water-quality grade. Model 4.0.0 combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, PFAS screening, radon zones, and annual air-quality evidence. Wake County has a score of 63/100 (Grade C) across 29 scored of 54 tracked ZIP records.
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Find the Right Filter →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe in Wake County, North Carolina?
Wake County has 61 community water systems with 947 recorded EPA violations, including 87 health-based. Water quality varies by ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Wake County have?
Wake County has 947 total EPA violations across 32 directly mapped ZIP records. 87 are health-based.
Which city in Wake County has the most water violations?
Raleigh has the most violations in Wake County with 448 recorded EPA violations across 17 ZIP codes.
What contaminants are found in Wake County water?
Wake County water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. Check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.
How can I test my water in Wake County?
Contact your local water utility for free or low-cost testing. You can also use a certified home test kit ($20-$50) or hire a certified lab ($150-$400).