Chapel Hill, NC (27599): PFAS Detected in Mapped Water Systems
EPA data for Orange Water & Sewer Authority
EPA records for the water systems mapped to 27599 in Chapel Hill, NC contain 1 recorded violations for inclusive record years 2021 through 2026, all mapped systems combined; 0 are marked health-based.
Data source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SDWIS
At a Glance
- Water EPA records for water systems mapped to this ZIP show 1 violation (non-health) (since 2021).
- Lead The reported 90th-percentile lead result is below the laboratory reporting limit, not a measured zero; EPA's health goal for lead is zero.
- PFAS At least one PFAS result is above an EPA MCL value (UCMR5 sampling; MCL compliance required from 2029).
- Radon EPA Zone 3 - county-level radon potential, not evidence of a low home result.
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Read the card below - it documents the sole critical-level finding on file for Chapel Hill (27599), with the high-priority tier of the same safety record returning zero results.
Score Breakdown
Overall Home Safety Score: Score unavailable
Required evidence is missing. Missing values remain unknown and are not imputed or renormalized.
Canonical components
Required domains
Coverage: 3 of 4 components and 2 of 3 domains observed.
Model 4.0.0; series home-safety-v4-cross-vertical.
Safety & Health (8) HIGH
Your Water System
ZIP code 27599 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is mapped to the water system Orange Water & Sewer Authority (EPA ID: NC0368010). This system provides water to approximately 86,500 people from surface water sources.
Other Water Quality Reports in North Carolina
- 27006 (Advance) - 9 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27007 (Ararat)
- 27009 (Belews Creek) - 1 violation recorded for mapped water systems
- 27010 (Bethania)
- 27011 (Boonville) - 25 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27012 (Clemmons) - 3 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27013 (Cleveland) - 7 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27014 (Cooleemee) - 9 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27016 (Danbury)
- 27017 (Dobson) - 5 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27018 (East Bend) - 3 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27019 (Germanton) - 98 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27020 (Hamptonville) - 6 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27021 (King) - 5 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27022 (Lawsonville)
- 27023 (Lewisville) - 1 violation recorded for mapped water systems
- 27024 (Lowgap)
- 27025 (Madison) - 21 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27027 (Mayodan) - 5 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27028 (Mocksville) - 15 violations recorded for mapped water systems
Nearby Water Quality Reports
- 27278 (Hillsborough) - 2 mi - 70 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27243 (Efland) - 5 mi - 55 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27705 (Durham) - 9 mi - 23 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27516 (Chapel Hill) - 9 mi - 19 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27302 (Mebane) - 10 mi - 62 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27514 (Chapel Hill) - 10 mi - 6 violations recorded for mapped water systems
- 27706 (Durham) - 10 mi
- 27515 (Chapel Hill) - 10 mi
- 27510 (Carrboro) - 10 mi - 1 violation recorded for mapped water systems
- 27712 (Durham) - 10 mi - 7 violations recorded for mapped water systems
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View available EPA compliance records for Orange Water & Sewer Authority (NC0368010) on EPA.gov.
4 of the top compounds applied across the surrounding county in USGS pesticide-use estimates appear on EPA drinking-water monitoring lists. See the agricultural pesticide-use section.
PFAS Contamination Detected
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with ZIP code 27599. One or more compound results are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL with compliance required from 2029.
Detected compounds: PFOS, PFOA.
Highest measured level: 0.0048 µg/L
Reverse osmosis (RO) and activated carbon block filters can reduce PFAS at the tap. Certifications list the compounds covered: an NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 claim for PFOA/PFOS does not cover every PFAS, so check that the product lists the compounds detected here.
Environmental Hazards (9) MODERATE
Home & Infrastructure (3) OK
Cost & Community (6) OK
CPSC product recall notices
These national notices are not matched to this ZIP code or water system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water in 27599 safe to drink?
EPA SDWIS records 1 violation since 2021 across the water systems mapped to ZIP 27599 (primary system: Orange Water & Sewer Authority), including 0 health-based. The violation table above shows which system each record belongs to. ZipCheckup last updated this page in July 2026. The federal source release date is unavailable, so that month is not presented as source currency.
Where does 27599's water come from?
The recorded water source for Orange Water & Sewer Authority, a system mapped to ZIP code 27599, is Surface water. This system serves approximately 86,500 people.
How can I get my water tested in Chapel Hill?
If Orange Water & Sewer Authority supplies your home, contact it for its Consumer Confidence Report; otherwise contact the water utility that serves your address, or hire a certified lab for independent home water testing. The EPA recommends annual testing if you use a private well.
What is the radon risk for 27599?
27599 is mapped to a county in EPA Radon Zone 3 (low county-level radon potential; EPA recommends testing every home), located in Orange County. EPA radon zones range from Zone 1 (highest county-level potential) to Zone 3 (lowest). Testing your home is recommended regardless of zone.
Are there PFAS (forever chemicals) in 27599's water?
Yes, PFAS have been detected in samples from water systems mapped to 27599. One or more PFAS results are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL with compliance required from 2029. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 specifically for PFOA/PFOS reduction can reduce PFAS.
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (2026). Chapel Hill, NC (27599): PFAS Detected in Mapped Water Systems. https://zipcheckup.com/report/27599/
@misc{zipcheckup-report-27599,
author = {{ZipCheckup}},
title = {{Chapel Hill, NC (27599): PFAS Detected in Mapped Water Systems}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/report/27599/}
}
Page version: October 2026.
Nearby ZIP Code Reports
Water quality comparison for ZIP codes near 27599
| ZIP Code | City, State | Distance | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27278 | Hillsborough, NC | 1.8 mi | N/A | 70 |
| 27243 | Efland, NC | 5.2 mi | N/A | 55 |
| 27705 | Durham, NC | 9.2 mi | B | 23 |
| 27516 | Chapel Hill, NC | 9.4 mi | N/A | 19 |
| 27302 | Mebane, NC | 9.7 mi | N/A | 62 |
| 27514 | Chapel Hill, NC | 9.9 mi | N/A | 6 |
| 27706 | Durham, NC | 10.0 mi | N/A | 0 |
| 27515 | Chapel Hill, NC | 10.1 mi | N/A | 0 |
| 27510 | Carrboro, NC | 10.2 mi | N/A | 1 |
| 27712 | Durham, NC | 10.3 mi | B | 7 |
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