Greensboro, NC Water Quality Report

Is Greensboro tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Greensboro, North Carolina. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Greensboro tap water safe to drink? Greensboro water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 90 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.

What contaminants are in Greensboro water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Greensboro water: PFOS (90 ppt), PFHxS (34 ppt), PFBA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Greensboro? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Greensboro Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Greensboro drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 90 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 2.3 ppt across 9 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 90 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHxS: 34 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFBS: 0.01 ppt
  • PFHxA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Greensboro Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 10 lead samples for Greensboro water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.002 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Greensboro

Greensboro public water systems have 1 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violation on record, including Surface Water Treatment Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Greensboro: approximately 299,035.

ZIP Codes Served

27401, 27402, 27403, 27404, 27405

Compare Greensboro to Other Cities

Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.

What Greensboro Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually