What was found in New Bern'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 | 952.25 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1750 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 182.8 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 36 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 87.15 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 14 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 33.225 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 10.4575 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 29.95 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 24.6 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 23.7 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 18 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 7.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.95 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 12.221 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19.08 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 13.9 µg/L 93% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 14.1 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 10.43 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.37 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.215 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.04 µg/L — CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.93 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.9 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.695 pCi/L 34% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 1.17 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Vinyl Chloride | 0.8000 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.4400 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Highest in the city: CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.4100 µg/L 205% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 37,848 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: NEW BERN, CITY OF · 37,884 people · 2025 | 2/2 | 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 New Bern
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| NEW BERN, CITY OF | 37,884 |
| CRAVEN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM | 37,848 |
Frequently asked questions about New Bern tap water
Is New Bern tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving New Bern. 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 New Bern?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for New Bern, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in New Bern's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in New Bern include Fluoride, Copper, TTHM, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane. 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.