TapWaterGuide
Worldwide water safety reference
Safe North Carolina, United States · Last reviewed:

Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Raleigh?

Yes, tap water in Raleigh is safe to drink. It's drawn from Falls Lake and the Neuse River, treated by the City of Raleigh to meet all EPA standards.

Hardness
Soft
pH
7.2–7.7
TDS
ranges 60–130 ppm
EPA Status
Compliant
Soft
Moderate
Hard
Very Hard

Water Source

The City of Raleigh draws from Falls Lake, a reservoir on the Neuse River, treating it at the E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant before distribution.

EPA Compliance Status

Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

Notable Contaminants & Context

  • No significant compliance concerns in Raleigh's supply specifically

How It Compares

Raleigh's Falls Lake source is separate from the Cape Fear River basin near Wilmington, North Carolina, which had a well-publicized GenX/PFAS industrial contamination case; that issue does not affect Raleigh's Neuse River-sourced supply.

Tips

  • The City of Raleigh publishes an annual water quality report
  • No need for bottled water around the city
  • Raleigh's water source is separate from the Cape Fear basin PFAS case near Wilmington

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & References

The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.