City of Durham,
EPA ID: NC0332010 · 322,083 people served · 22 ZIP codes
Federal data shows 19 unresolved violations at City of Durham, — roughly 322,083 residents in the service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 2 (2022) to 5 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Durham, Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade A
Service Area Demographics
The City of Durham, serves a community with a median household income of $96,128 and an estimated 441,925 residents across its service area.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
City of Durham,'s water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Orange County, North Carolina rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How City of Durham, compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 3 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 11 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 8 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 8 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 49 detections recorded. 21 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in North Carolina
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
DURHAM, CITY OF (EPA ID: NC0332010) is a community water system in North Carolina that serves approximately 322,083 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 22 ZIP codes across 7 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: A (88/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Combined Radium | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 14, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 6, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| December 5, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 1, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| December 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 11, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 11 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 8 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 8 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 7 | No |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 6 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 6 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 3 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 3 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Gross Alpha Particle Activity (EPA limit: pCi/L)
Increased cancer risk from radioactive particles At-risk groups: long-term residents in areas with uranium or radium-rich geology, people on private wells in western US.
Removal methods: reverse osmosis, ion exchange (anion exchange for radium), lime softening. Find the right filter →
Lead (EPA limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level))
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults At-risk groups: infants, children under 6, pregnant women.
Removal methods: reverse osmosis, distillation, certified carbon block filter (NSF/ANSI 53). Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27701 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27702 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27703 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27704 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27705 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27706 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27707 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27708 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27709 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27710 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27711 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27712 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27713 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27715 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27717 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27722 | 0.00555 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27517 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27572 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 14 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 8 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 27278 — Hillsborough
- 27503 — Bahama
- 27517 — Chapel Hill
- 27560 — Morrisville
- 27572 — Rougemont
- 27617 — Raleigh
- 27701 — Durham
- 27702 — Durham
- 27703 — Durham
- 27704 — Durham
- 27705 — Durham
- 27706 — Durham
- 27707 — Durham
- 27708 — Durham
- 27709 — Durham
- 27710 — Durham
- 27711 — Durham
- 27712 — Durham
- 27713 — Durham
- 27715 — Durham
- 27717 — Durham
- 27722 — Durham
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Durham, (NC0332010) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Durham, water safe to drink?
City of Durham, has recorded 10 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does City of Durham, serve?
City of Durham, serves approximately 322,083 people across 22 ZIP codes in North Carolina.
Where does City of Durham, get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
City of Durham, (EPA ID: NC0332010) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.