What was found in Oak Ridge'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 | 1060 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D · 576 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8280 µg/L — CRUTCHFIELD FARMS S/D · 84 people · 2019 | 20/25 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 590 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D · 576 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 7740 µg/L — CRUTCHFIELD FARMS S/D · 84 people · 2015 | 17/25 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 128.5 µg/L 3.2% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D · 576 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1950 µg/L — RIVER OAKS S/D · 409 people · 2018 | 17/25 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 191 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D · 576 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1028.6 µg/L — WEATHERSTONE S/D · 269 people · 2019 | 20/25 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 103.662 pCi/L 691% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: KENSINGTON PLACE S/D · 61 people · 2019 | 4/25 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 8.265 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D · 576 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 88.6 pCi/L — KENSINGTON PLACE S/D · 61 people · 2015 | 17/25 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 24.2572 µg/L 81% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D · 576 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 57.663 µg/L — RIVER OAKS S/D · 409 people · 2019 | 17/25 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 29.15 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Highest in the city: CRUTCHFIELD FARMS S/D · 84 people · 2018 | 12/25 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 28 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: SMOKE RIDGE ESTATES · 135 people · 2018 | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 18 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Highest in the city: CRUTCHFIELD FARMS S/D · 84 people · 2018 | 5/25 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 9.987 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D · 576 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.2 µg/L — CRUTCHFIELD FARMS S/D · 84 people · 2019 | 14/25 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 17 µg/L 283% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: WEATHERSTONE S/D · 269 people · 2018 | 3/25 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CRUTCHFIELD FARMS S/D · 84 people · 2018 | 4/25 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.29 pCi/L 26% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D · 576 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.59 pCi/L — FOXBURY S/D · 63 people · 2019 | 12/25 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE ESTATES OF OAK RIDGE LAKE · 300 people · 2019 | 4/25 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 5.31 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: WILLARD OAKS S/D · 112 people · 2018 | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE ESTATES OF OAK RIDGE LAKE · 300 people · 2019 | 2/25 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 2.8 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: SMOKE RIDGE ESTATES · 135 people · 2018 | 2/25 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.34 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SMOKE RIDGE ESTATES · 135 people · 2019 | 4/25 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: KENSINGTON PLACE S/D · 61 people · 2019 | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THE ESTATES OF OAK RIDGE LAKE · 300 people · 2019 | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SMOKE RIDGE ESTATES · 135 people · 2019 | 2/25 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SMOKE RIDGE ESTATES · 135 people · 2019 | 2/25 | SYR4 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | 1.0815 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Highest in the city: WEATHERSTONE S/D · 269 people · 2018 | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.6700 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Highest in the city: KENSINGTON PLACE S/D · 61 people · 2019 | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Chlordane | 0.4000 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: OAK RIDGE MILITARY ACADEMY · 150 people · 2019 | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.0210 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: FOXBURY MEADOWS S/D · 79 people · 2019 | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Endrin | 0.0180 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: BALLARD FARMS S/D · 125 people · 2019 | 1/25 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0027 mg/L 18% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D · 576 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0155 mg/L — KNIGHT`S LANDING S/D · 117 people · 2025 | 25/25 | 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 Oak Ridge
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ARBOR RUN/CHARLES PLACE S/D | 576 |
| WILSON FARMS/AUBURNDALE | 465 |
| RIVER OAKS S/D | 409 |
| RIDGECREST/BAKERSFIELD S/D | 343 |
| THE ESTATES OF OAK RIDGE LAKE | 300 |
| WEATHERSTONE S/D | 269 |
| TWELVE OAKS S/D | 234 |
| PEPPER RIDGE S/D | 185 |
| OAK RIDGE MILITARY ACADEMY | 150 |
| SMOKE RIDGE ESTATES | 135 |
| HONEYCUTT RESERVE | 132 |
| BALLARD FARMS S/D | 125 |
| KNIGHT`S LANDING S/D | 117 |
| WILLARD OAKS S/D | 112 |
| MERRIMAN ESTATES/BILLET PLACE | 107 |
| LINVILLE OAKS S/D | 104 |
| CRUTCHFIELD FARMS S/D | 84 |
| FOXBURY MEADOWS S/D | 79 |
| PEARMAN ESTATES | 76 |
| THATCHER WOODS | 72 |
| FOXBURY S/D | 63 |
| KENSINGTON PLACE S/D | 61 |
| HUNTING RIDGE S/D | 58 |
| AUTUMN RIDGE S/D | 56 |
| VILLAGE WOODS DEVELOPMENT | 51 |
Frequently asked questions about Oak Ridge tap water
Is Oak Ridge tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Oak Ridge. 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 Oak Ridge?
25 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Oak Ridge, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Oak Ridge's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Oak Ridge include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U. 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.