What was found in Boone's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 670 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4918.5 µg/L — CHAPEL HILL S/D · 216 people · 2019 | 16/20 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 590 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2462 µg/L — WATAUGA MHP · 45 people · 2019 | 10/20 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 666.5 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1250 µg/L — HAMPTON MHP · 37 people · 2018 | 2/20 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 131 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1170.4 µg/L — BLUE RIDGE PRESERVATION INC · 150 people · 2018 | 17/20 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 120.6 µg/L 804% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019 | 14/20 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 72.6 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 77.55 µg/L — APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 8/20 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 39.4 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 75.35 µg/L — APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 8/20 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 64.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 67.701 µg/L — APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 7/20 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 19.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 34.7 µg/L — APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 7/20 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 19.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 34.7 µg/L — APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 5/20 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 29.95 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019 | 1/20 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 15.18 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAURELWOOD DEVELOPMENT · 71 people · 2016 | 2/20 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 9.33 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.561 µg/L — APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 4/20 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 9.114 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: LAURELWOOD DEVELOPMENT · 71 people · 2019 | 3/20 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 7.45 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: COTTAGES OF BOONE · 890 people · 2014 | 4/20 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 6.695 pCi/L 45% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: LAURELWOOD DEVELOPMENT · 71 people · 2016 | 2/20 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 6.65 pCi/L 133% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: LAURELWOOD DEVELOPMENT · 71 people · 2019 | 6/20 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 5.71 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6 µg/L — APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 2/20 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 5.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019 | 3/20 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 4.1 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: HOUND EARS WATER SYSTEM · 975 people · 2019 | 2/20 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.78 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.111 µg/L — APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 4/20 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 1/20 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP · 11,150 people · 2019 | 1/20 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.6 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: HOUND EARS WATER SYSTEM · 975 people · 2018 | 1/20 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1.4 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019 | 1/20 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.9300 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019 | 1/20 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.5400 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2019 | 1/20 | SYR4 |
| Chlordane | 0.3395 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: CHAPEL HILL S/D · 216 people · 2018 | 1/20 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0035 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2024 | 1/20 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0025 mg/L 17% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BOONE, TOWN OF · 19,811 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0030 mg/L — HEAVENLY MTN RESORT-VILLAGE · 25 people · 2025 | 20/20 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Boone
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BOONE, TOWN OF | 19,811 |
| APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV WTP | 11,150 |
| HOUND EARS WATER SYSTEM | 975 |
| COTTAGES OF BOONE | 890 |
| ECHOTA S/D | 678 |
| POWDER HORN MOUNTAIN | 548 |
| SKI MOUNTAIN S/D | 397 |
| BRADFORD PARK | 310 |
| THE BLUFFS AT BLOWING ROCK | 254 |
| CHAPEL HILL S/D | 216 |
| BLUE RIDGE PRESERVATION INC | 150 |
| CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN | 88 |
| LAURELWOOD DEVELOPMENT | 71 |
| PEBBLE CREEK APARTMENTS | 52 |
| WATAUGA MHP | 45 |
| VALLEY VIEW S/D | 40 |
| HAMPTON MHP | 37 |
| GREEN BRIAR APARTMENTS | 35 |
| BLOOMFIELD APARTMENTS | 31 |
| HEAVENLY MTN RESORT-VILLAGE | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Boone tap water
Is Boone tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 30 contaminants in the water serving Boone. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Boone?
20 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Boone, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Boone's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Boone include Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Lead. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.