City of Raleigh
EPA ID: NC0392010 · 640,000 people served · 54 ZIP codes
In the current EPA monitoring period, City of Raleigh has 23 violations still listed as unresolved, with the utility supplying water to approximately 640,000 residents.
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 6 (2022) to 9 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Raleigh Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The City of Raleigh serves a community with a median household income of $90,189 and an estimated 936,168 residents across its service area.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
City of Raleigh'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 Wake 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 Raleigh compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 4 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.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 7 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 9 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Lead and Copper Rule at 15 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 14 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. 129 detections recorded. 29 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
City of Raleigh, (EPA ID: NC0392010) is a community water system in North Carolina that serves approximately 640,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 54 ZIP codes across 11 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (59/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 8, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 20, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 21, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Unresolved |
| June 15, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Radium-228 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Unresolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 26, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 15 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 14 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 10 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 9 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 7 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 5 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 4 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 4 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 4 | No |
| Contaminant 2946 | Other Violation | 2 | Yes |
| Contaminant 2031 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27601 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27602 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27603 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27604 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27605 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27606 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27607 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27608 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27609 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27610 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27611 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27612 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27613 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27614 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27615 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27616 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27617 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27619 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27620 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 27621 | 0.00304 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
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: 27 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 27 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.
This system serves 54 ZIP codes:
27518 · 27529 · 27539 · 27545 · 27560 27571 · 27587 · 27596 · 27597 · 27601 27602 · 27603 · 27604 · 27605 · 27606 27607 · 27608 · 27609 · 27610 · 27611 27612 · 27613 · 27614 · 27615 · 27616 27617 · 27619 · 27620 · 27621 · 27622 27623 · 27624 · 27625 · 27626 · 27627 27628 · 27629 · 27634 · 27635 · 27636 27640 · 27650 · 27656 · 27658 · 27661 27668 · 27675 · 27676 · 27690 · 27695 27697 · 27698 · 27699 · 27703
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Raleigh (NC0392010) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Raleigh water safe to drink?
City of Raleigh has recorded 7 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 Raleigh serve?
City of Raleigh serves approximately 640,000 people across 54 ZIP codes in North Carolina.
Where does City of Raleigh 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 Raleigh (EPA ID: NC0392010) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.