What was found in Salisbury'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-Nitrite | 6400 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BETHAVEN WATER SYSTEM · 66 people · 2015 | 7/15 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 1370 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6305 µg/L — BETHAVEN WATER SYSTEM · 66 people · 2019 | 11/15 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 938 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019 | 9/15 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 538.95 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 577.75 µg/L — FISHERMAN`S COVE WATER SYSTEM · 359 people · 2018 | 12/15 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 23.6 µg/L 157% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 139.75 µg/L — NORTHEAST ROWAN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 471 people · 2019 | 7/15 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 93.265 µg/L 117% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 102.85 µg/L — NORTHEAST ROWAN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 471 people · 2019 | 3/15 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 75.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 91.9 µg/L — NORTHEAST ROWAN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 471 people · 2019 | 3/15 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 81.0933 µg/L 270% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 30 µg/L Highest in the city: WESTWOOD MHP & S/D · 638 people · 2019 | 4/15 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 48.885 µg/L 81% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 58.375 µg/L — NORTHEAST ROWAN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 471 people · 2019 | 4/15 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 35 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: MOBIL LODGE MHP · 94 people · 2019 | 2/15 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 30.43 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 34.05 µg/L — NORTHEAST ROWAN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 471 people · 2019 | 6/15 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 32.62 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WESTWOOD MHP & S/D · 638 people · 2019 | 4/15 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 18.91 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.475 µg/L — NORTHEAST ROWAN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM · 471 people · 2019 | 3/15 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 19 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019 | 2/15 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.3 µg/L — WINDMILL RIDGE S/D · 140 people · 2019 | 3/15 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 5.3 pCi/L 35% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: OAKLAND MEADOWS MHP · 173 people · 2017 | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019 | 2/15 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.76 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2019 | 2/15 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.5 pCi/L 50% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: KIMBERLY COURT · 69 people · 2016 | 6/15 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WINDMILL RIDGE S/D · 140 people · 2019 | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BETHAVEN WATER SYSTEM · 66 people · 2018 | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.895 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: WINDMILL RIDGE S/D · 140 people · 2018 | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 1.86 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: CRESTVIEW S/D · 135 people · 2019 | 2/15 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.2 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: FISHERMAN`S COVE WATER SYSTEM · 359 people · 2018 | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Asbestos | 0.2000 MFL 2.9% of the EPA limit 7 MFL Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2012 | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Heptachlor Epoxide | 0.0368 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: FAIRFIELD ACRES · 158 people · 2019 | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SALISBURY-ROWAN · 46,156 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0118 mg/L — FISHERMAN`S COVE WATER SYSTEM · 359 people · 2025 | 15/15 | 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 Salisbury
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SALISBURY-ROWAN | 46,156 |
| WESTWOOD MHP & S/D | 638 |
| NORTHEAST ROWAN COUNTY WATER SYSTEM | 471 |
| FISHERMAN`S COVE WATER SYSTEM | 359 |
| OLD FARM DEVELOPMENT | 213 |
| OAKLAND MEADOWS MHP | 173 |
| FAIRFIELD ACRES | 158 |
| WINDMILL RIDGE S/D | 140 |
| CRESTVIEW S/D | 135 |
| PINE MEADOWS S/D | 104 |
| MOBIL LODGE MHP | 94 |
| HICKORY LANE MHP | 83 |
| GREEN ACRES MHP | 71 |
| KIMBERLY COURT | 69 |
| BETHAVEN WATER SYSTEM | 66 |
Frequently asked questions about Salisbury tap water
Is Salisbury tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Salisbury. 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 Salisbury?
15 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Salisbury, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Salisbury's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Salisbury include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, 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.