Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Fayetteville?
Yes, tap water in Fayetteville is safe to drink. The Public Works Commission treats Cape Fear River and local reservoir water to EPA standards — and importantly, the Chemours plant behind the region's GenX contamination sits downstream of Fayetteville's intakes, not upstream.
Water Source
The Fayetteville Public Works Commission (PWC) draws from the Cape Fear River at the P.O. Hoffer plant and from the Little Cross Creek reservoir chain at the Glenville Lake plant.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •PFAS — the Chemours Fayetteville Works site made GenX a household word, but it discharges downstream of PWC's river intake; Wilmington-area utilities bore the brunt, while Fayetteville's levels come from smaller upstream sources and test comparatively low
- •PWC monitors PFAS closely and has planned granular activated carbon upgrades ahead of the federal PFAS rule deadlines
- •Disinfection byproducts from river water are monitored and kept within EPA limits
How It Compares
Geography matters here: the same river that carried GenX to Wilmington's taps passes Fayetteville first, upstream of the Chemours outfall — so Fayetteville avoided the worst of the Cape Fear PFAS crisis despite lending the plant its name.
Tips
- •If PFAS concerns you, certified reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters reduce it at the tap
- •PWC publishes PFAS sampling results alongside its annual quality report
- •Soft water means no softener needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •US EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulations
- •EWG Tap Water Database
- •The utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality