What was found in Denver'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 863.2 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2015.5 µg/L — CROSS COUNTRY CAMPGROUND INC · 627 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 300 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1450 µg/L — CROSS COUNTRY CAMPGROUND INC · 627 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 120 µg/L 9.2% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 578 µg/L — CROSS COUNTRY CAMPGROUND INC · 627 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 90.55 µg/L 113% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 74.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 48.06 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 29.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 26.57 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 25.23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 23.665 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 4 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 15.925 µg/L — PEBBLE BAY · 587 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 14 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 10.97 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 9.84 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 9.5 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: DENVER SHORES MHP WATER SYSTEM · 229 people · 2013 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 9.47 µg/L 158% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: CROSS COUNTRY CAMPGROUND INC · 627 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 5.4 pCi/L 36% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: CROSS COUNTRY CAMPGROUND INC · 627 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.855 pCi/L 77% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: DENVER SHORES MHP WATER SYSTEM · 229 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.57 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.42742 µg/L 4.8% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: PEBBLE BAY · 587 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0100 mg/L — PEBBLE BAY · 587 people · 2025 | 4/4 | LCR |
| PFOA | 0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0053 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0047 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN COUNTY WTP · 49,693 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
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 Denver
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LINCOLN COUNTY WTP | 49,693 |
| CROSS COUNTRY CAMPGROUND INC | 627 |
| PEBBLE BAY | 587 |
| DENVER SHORES MHP WATER SYSTEM | 229 |
Frequently asked questions about Denver tap water
Is Denver tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Denver. 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 Denver?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Denver, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Denver's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Denver include Fluoride, Nitrate, Copper, TTHM, Chloroform. 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.