Wayne County, North Carolina: drinking water report. Wayne County in eastern North Carolina has about 124,000 residents, with Goldsboro as the county seat.
Wayne County in eastern North Carolina has about 124,000 residents, with Goldsboro as the county seat. The Neuse River and groundwater wells provide drinking water. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, a major Air Force installation, sits adjacent to Goldsboro. The county's flat coastal plain geography and intensive agriculture – tobacco, sweet potatoes, and hog farming – shape the water quality profile.
Seymour Johnson AFB has documented PFAS contamination from AFFF firefighting foam. According to the Air Force's 2024 environmental report, monitoring wells near the base fire training areas show PFOS at 65 ppt. The contamination plume extends off-base, and North Carolina DEQ's 2024 investigation found PFAS in private wells within one mile of the base at concentrations up to 40 ppt.
Hog farming in Wayne County adds a distinctive contamination concern. The county has over 200 permitted animal operations, and waste lagoons and spray fields contribute nitrate, bacteria, and emerging contaminants to the shallow aquifer. A 2024 NC DEQ groundwater study found nitrate above 5 mg/L in 15% of private wells tested in the county's agricultural zones.
Wayne County well owners face overlapping risks – military PFAS near the base and agricultural contamination across the broader county. Testing for both contaminant classes gives you the clearest picture of your exposure.
Check your water for data at your address. For PFAS and agricultural nitrate together, reverse osmosis handles both in one system. Our water filter guide covers options for eastern North Carolina groundwater. Get your detailed report for trends, and visit our North Carolina page for statewide data.