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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
Comprehensive water safety analysis • Updated June 2026
Raleigh maintains excellent water quality with all 0 tested contaminants well below EPA safety limits.
Generally Safe. Raleigh's tap water meets EPA standards. Score: 95/100.
Want to understand your score better? Learn how scores are calculated →
Is your neighbor's water better? See how Raleigh's grade of A+ (95/100) stacks up.
Guides matched to the contaminants found in your water
0 contaminants tested • EPA SDWIS data • Click any contaminant for details
| Contaminant | Level Detected | EPA Limit | % of Limit | Status |
|---|
Based on detected contaminants in your water
Removes chlorine, improves taste, and filters many organic compounds. Great starting point.
| Filter Type | Best For | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse Osmosis | Lead, PFAS, arsenic, nitrates (95-99% removal) | $150-300 |
| Under-sink carbon block | Chlorine, VOCs, many organics; some lead/PFAS models | $100-250 |
| Pitcher / faucet carbon | Chlorine, taste; NSF 53 models also reduce lead | $20-50 |
See our full water filter comparison for certified products matched to specific contaminants.
Our data covers your city's water system, but contaminants can vary at the tap. A home water test gives you exact results for your faucet.
Get a Certified Home Water Test — Tap ScoreWe may earn a commission when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. All recommendations are based on our independent analysis of Raleigh's water quality data.
How to contact your water provider and access official reports
The primary water provider for Raleigh is CITY OF RALEIGH (Public Water System ID: NC0392035), serving approximately 470,000 residents. This utility is responsible for treating, testing, and delivering drinking water that meets EPA standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act. As a regulated public water system, it is required to conduct regular testing for over 90 contaminants and publish results in an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) that must be made available to all customers by July 1 each year.
Your water utility is legally obligated to notify customers within 24 hours of any violation that poses an immediate health risk, and within 30 days for less urgent violations. If you are concerned about your water quality, you have the right to request testing data from your utility at any time. For independent verification, you can have your water tested at the tap by a state-certified laboratory. The EPA maintains a list of certified labs by state at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Home testing is particularly important because it captures contamination from your household plumbing that utility testing at distribution points would not detect.
Raleigh Water Quality Score
Based on EPA contaminant data and compliance records
Even with good water quality, a filter removes trace contaminants and improves taste.
For Everyday Peace of Mind
Brita UltraMax Dispenser
Your water already tests well — a simple carbon filter improves taste and catches trace contaminants.
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Get a lab-certified water test to know exactly what's in your tap water.
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Find the right filter for your Raleigh water quality needs:
Understand the contaminants that may be present in Raleigh's water supply and their health effects.
Matched to the contaminants actually detected in Raleigh's water
Raleigh's water meets EPA limits, but a certified filter still removes trace contaminants and improves taste.
We may earn a commission when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Understand your water better with our in-depth guides on contaminants, filtration, and water safety.
Raleigh's drinking water is managed by CITY OF RALEIGH, which serves approximately 470,000 residents through a combination of surface and groundwater sources. Our analysis of 0 tested contaminants reveals a quality score of 95/100, placing Raleigh among the top-performing water systems in North Carolina.
Raleigh's water quality is strong across all tested parameters, with all contaminants well within EPA safety limits. This reflects effective water treatment and well-maintained infrastructure.
Raleigh's water system has a clean compliance record with no documented EPA violations, demonstrating consistent adherence to federal drinking water standards.
This report is based on data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database. Our scoring algorithm weighs contaminant analysis (50%), compliance history (30%), and infrastructure factors (20%). Data is sourced directly from public EPA records and Consumer Confidence Reports. We are an independent resource with no affiliation to water utilities or government agencies. Learn more about our methodology.
Common questions from Raleigh, North Carolina residents about their drinking water
Yes, Raleigh's tap water generally meets EPA safety standards with a quality score of 95/100 (Grade A+). All 0 tested contaminants are within legal limits, indicating the water treatment process is effective. However, water quality at your faucet can differ from what leaves the treatment plant due to your home's plumbing. Older homes built before 1986 may have lead solder or galvanized pipes that introduce contaminants. Even with a good score, a basic water filter can improve taste and provide extra peace of mind.
Raleigh's water has been tested for 0 contaminants spanning inorganic chemicals, disinfection byproducts, organic compounds, radionuclides, and microorganisms. All tested contaminants are within safe limits, with 0 contaminants well below 50% of their respective EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels.' See the full contaminant breakdown table above for detailed measurements and EPA limit comparisons.
Raleigh has a water quality score of 95/100, earning a grade of A+. This score is calculated using EPA SDWIS data and weighs three factors: contaminant levels (50% of score), regulatory compliance history (30%), and infrastructure factors (20%). The national average is approximately 72/100. Raleigh's score of 95 is 23 points above the national average, indicating excellent water quality management. Learn more about how scores are calculated.
An activated carbon filter would be suitable for Raleigh residents. Based on the contaminant profile, a carbon filter will effectively reduce chlorine taste, disinfection byproducts, and many organic compounds. Options range from pitcher filters ($20-40) to under-sink systems ($100-250). Even in cities with good water quality, a filter provides an additional layer of protection against contaminants that may enter water from your home's plumbing. View our water filter comparison guide for specific product recommendations.
Raleigh's primary water system, CITY OF RALEIGH (PWS ID: NC0392035), sources water from a combination of surface and groundwater sources, which provides resilience in the water supply but means the utility must manage treatment for the different contamination profiles of each source type. This system serves approximately 470,000 residents.
Lead testing in Raleigh shows levels within EPA action level guidelines. However, lead contamination is primarily a household plumbing issue rather than a water source issue. Lead can enter water from lead service lines, lead solder (used in homes built before 1986), and brass fixtures. Even if your city's water is lead-free at the treatment plant, your home's plumbing may introduce lead. Homes built before 1986 should consider testing their water at the tap. Running cold water for 30 seconds before drinking is always a good practice.
Raleigh's water system has a clean compliance record with no documented EPA violations. This is a positive indicator that the utility consistently meets federal drinking water standards, conducts required monitoring, and follows proper reporting procedures. No violations does not guarantee perfect water quality at every tap, but it demonstrates that the utility is maintaining its treatment and distribution systems effectively.
There are several options for testing your water in Raleigh. For the most comprehensive results, use a state-certified laboratory (find one at epa.gov/dwlabcert). Home test kits like Tap Score provide EPA-certified lab analysis with easy-to-understand results. Basic test strips available at hardware stores can screen for common parameters like chlorine, pH, hardness, and lead, though they are less accurate than laboratory testing. You can also request the latest testing data directly from CITY OF RALEIGH. Testing at your tap is important because it captures contamination from your household plumbing that city-level monitoring at distribution points does not detect.