What was found in Elizabeth City'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 | 680 µg/L 6.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1590 µg/L — PASQUOTANK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 10,653 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 988 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1447 µg/L — PASQUOTANK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 10,653 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 697 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 548.5 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.08 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 177.75 µg/L — PASQUOTANK CO RO WATER SYSTEM · 13,187 people · 2017 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 110 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 75.4 µg/L 94% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 70.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 40.95 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 20.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2023 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.75 µg/L — PASQUOTANK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 10,653 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.19 µg/L — PASQUOTANK CO RO WATER SYSTEM · 13,187 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 12.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13 µg/L — PASQUOTANK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 10,653 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 8.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 8.13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.97 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.3 µg/L — PASQUOTANK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 10,653 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.1 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF · 19,187 people · 2025 | 4/4 | 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 Elizabeth City
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ELIZABETH CITY, CITY OF | 19,187 |
| PASQUOTANK CO RO WATER SYSTEM | 13,187 |
| PASQUOTANK COUNTY WATER SYSTEM | 10,653 |
| ELIZABETH CITY ANNEX | 160 |
Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth City tap water
Is Elizabeth City tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Elizabeth City. 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 Elizabeth City?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Elizabeth City, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Elizabeth City's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Elizabeth City 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.