What was found in Wake Forest'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 | 2000 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5650 µg/L — JONES DAIRY FARM S/D · 175 people · 2019 | 15/31 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2000 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5400 µg/L — JONES DAIRY FARM S/D · 175 people · 2019 | 13/31 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 4604 µg/L 230% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: JONES DAIRY FARM S/D · 175 people · 2019 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 315.8 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1907.25 µg/L — TUCKAHOE S/D · 221 people · 2018 | 25/31 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 216 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1052 µg/L — COTESWORTH DOWN S/D · 510 people · 2019 | 23/31 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 3.84 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 136.835 µg/L — TUCKAHOE S/D · 221 people · 2019 | 3/31 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 1.385 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 41.75 µg/L — OLD FARM CROSSING S/D · 84 people · 2018 | 15/31 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 39.6 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Highest in the city: COTESWORTH DOWN S/D · 510 people · 2019 | 4/31 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 35.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: COTESWORTH DOWN S/D · 510 people · 2019 | 10/31 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 4.31355 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 35.313 µg/L — SUNSET MANOR S/D · 97 people · 2019 | 18/31 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 34.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: COTESWORTH DOWN S/D · 510 people · 2019 | 5/31 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 10.81 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 30 pCi/L — SUNSET MANOR S/D · 97 people · 2019 | 16/31 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 27.32 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: TUCKAHOE S/D · 221 people · 2019 | 2/31 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.53 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.2 µg/L — LA VENTANA S/D · 112 people · 2019 | 12/31 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 5.3 pCi/L 106% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.34 pCi/L — THOMPSON MILLS S/D · 460 people · 2019 | 16/31 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 6.2 pCi/L 41% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: KINGSTON MANOR S/D · 88 people · 2018 | 2/31 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: OLD FARM CROSSING S/D · 84 people · 2018 | 5/31 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 3.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THOMPSON MILLS S/D · 460 people · 2019 | 7/31 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.9 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: A COUNTRY PLACE · 89 people · 2018 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | 2.67 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: BAY LAUREL S/D · 58 people · 2019 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: THOMPSON MILLS S/D · 460 people · 2019 | 3/31 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PHILLIPS LANDING S/D · 81 people · 2019 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.5100 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.7 µg/L — KINGSTON MANOR S/D · 88 people · 2019 | 4/31 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: NEW LIGHT MASTER · 2,619 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0085 mg/L — GALLOWAY S/D · 231 people · 2025 | 31/31 | 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 Wake Forest
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| NEW LIGHT MASTER | 2,619 |
| DEERCHASE S/D | 757 |
| COTESWORTH DOWN S/D | 510 |
| THOMPSON MILLS S/D | 460 |
| MATHERLY S/D | 353 |
| BLACKSTONE MEADOWS | 246 |
| CRESCENT RIDGE S/D | 242 |
| GREYCLIFF MASTER | 235 |
| GALLOWAY S/D | 231 |
| TUCKAHOE S/D | 221 |
| CAMBERLY S/D | 203 |
| JONES DAIRY FARM S/D | 175 |
| BERKLEE RESERVE | 123 |
| MILL RACE | 122 |
| HARRISON RIDGE SUBDIVISION | 117 |
| LA VENTANA S/D | 112 |
| SUNSET MANOR S/D | 97 |
| WINDEMERE S/D | 96 |
| A COUNTRY PLACE | 89 |
| CHESTERFIELD VILLAGE | 89 |
| KINGSTON MANOR S/D | 88 |
| OLD FARM CROSSING S/D | 84 |
| PHILLIPS LANDING S/D | 81 |
| VERNON PLACE S/D | 64 |
| AVALYN S/D | 58 |
| BAY LAUREL S/D | 58 |
| YARDLEY S/D | 56 |
| REMINGTON FOREST S/D | 45 |
| ETHAN MEADOWS S/D | 43 |
| WHITE FLAG AT DEERCHASE S/D | 26 |
| WHISPERING PINES MHP | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Wake Forest tap water
Is Wake Forest tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Wake Forest. 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 Wake Forest?
31 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Wake Forest, North Carolina to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Wake Forest's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Wake Forest include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Barium, Copper, Fluoride. 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.