What was found in Jefferson'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 | 1300 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2745 µg/L — JEFFERSON LANDING · 653 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 300 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1360 µg/L — JEFFERSON LANDING · 653 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 810 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 19 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 72.35 µg/L — JEFFERSON LANDING · 653 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.5 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 54 µg/L — BUFFALO MEADOWS S/D · 120 people · 2017 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 31.42 µg/L 628% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 31.2 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 29.4 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 24.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 22.58 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 14.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.145 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: JEFFERSON LANDING · 653 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.97 µg/L — JEFFERSON LANDING · 653 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 2.055 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 1.5 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | 1.3 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 1 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.8400 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | 0.8300 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dinoseb | 0.7320 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L Highest in the city: JEFFERSON LANDING · 653 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 0.5800 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0030 mg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: JEFFERSON, TOWN OF · 1,740 people · 2025 | 3/3 | 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 Jefferson
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| JEFFERSON, TOWN OF | 1,740 |
| JEFFERSON LANDING | 653 |
| BUFFALO MEADOWS S/D | 120 |
Frequently asked questions about Jefferson tap water
Is Jefferson tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Jefferson. 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 Jefferson?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Jefferson, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Jefferson's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Jefferson include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, 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.