Water Quality Reports

Emma Schultz, M.S.  |  Scientific Contributor
**Updated June 18, 2021 to include current data

For our assessment of Winston-Salem’s tap water quality, we aggregated water quality test data from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utility Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. Our Water Nerds cross reference these data with toxicity studies in scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we sell in Winston-Salem are optimized to remove the contaminants that were detected.

Source Of Winston-Salem Drinking Water

Winston-Salem’s drinking water is surface water-based, with water coming from both the Yadkin River and from Salem Lake. Water is treated at one of the three water treatment facilities operated by the City/County Utility Commission.

Lead In Winston-Salem Drinking Water

Lead enters consumer tap water through old lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures fail (such as recently happened in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into drinking water and can reach toxic levels. According to the most recent Winston-Salem water quality analysis the 90th percentile concentration of 53 sampled sites of less than 3 parts per billion for lead in drinking water. While the Action Level is 15 parts per billion, the EPA, CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recognize that there is no safe level of lead for children. And of course, federal regulations cannot take into account levels measured in an individual home’s tap.

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) In Hampton Drinking Water

PFAS are a class of chemicals found in various non-stick and stain resistant products, as well as fire fighting foam. PFAS are considered to be "emerging contaminants" because they are not currently regulated by EPA, but are known to be toxic and persistent in the environment. PFAS have historically been an ingredient in fire fighting foam, which is why they're often found on or near military bases. Most municipalities don't test for PFAS, including Winston-Salem. Hydroviv undersink filters remove PFAS. If you'd like to check out third-party data on our removal rates, send us an email at hello@hydroviv.com.

Chromium 6 In Winston-Salem Drinking Water

Chromium 6 is a highly toxic metal that, while monitored, is not regulated by the EPA. Winston-Salem’s tap water quality recently averaged 52 parts per trillion for chromium 6. These average levels are 2.6 times higher than the concentration determined to have a negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Winston-Salem Drinking Water

DBPs are a category of emerging contaminants that form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with naturally-occurring organic matter. Although these chemicals are not well regulated, the EPA has stated that they are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems. EPA regulates two types of DBPs: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Halo Acetic Acids 5 (HAA5). TTHMs in Winston-Salem’s tap water had a 2020 Local Running Annual average of 53.4 parts per billion. Consumers may be interested to know that levels of TTHMs ranged as high as 98.8 parts per billion, while the EPA’s Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) is only 80 parts per billion. Although these upper range values are well above the MRDL, this is not an EPA violation, since local running annual averages are used for comparison.

Use Of Chlorine In Winston-Salem Tap Water

Like most cities in the United States, Winston-Salem adds chlorine to its water supply to keep consumers safe from waterborne pathogens. While not considered harmful at low levels, many people find that removing the chlorine from their water supply results in a taste and odor improvement. When you choose to filter your tap water, we believe you will notice an immediate taste enhancement.

Still Have Questions About Winston-Salem’s Tap Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each city’s water. The chemicals that we list above are what we consider to be “points of emphasis” so we can build the best water filter for Winston-Salem’s tap water, but all of our water filters provide broad protection against other contaminants commonly found in drinking water (e.g. VOCs, heavy metals [including lead], pharmaceuticals, solvents, pesticides, mercury).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Winston-Salem tap water, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook.

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**Updated June 11, 2021 to include most recent data
Kezia Snipe  |  Hydroviv Research Analyst

For Hydroviv’s assessment of Raleigh drinking and tap water, we aggregated water quality test data from the City Of Raleigh Public Utilities Department, the water provider for the city and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference Raleigh water data with toxicity studies in scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we offer at Hydroviv are optimized with these numbers in mind.

Source Of Raleigh Drinking Water

Raleigh sources its drinking water from Lake Benson and Falls Lake.

PFAS In Raleigh Drinking Water

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS are a category of chemicals found in various non-stick/stain resistant products, as well as fire fighting foam. PFAS are considered to be "emerging contaminants" because they are not currently regulated by EPA, but are known to be toxic, carcinogenic, and persistent in the environment. High levels of PFAS have been detected throughout the entire state of North Carolina, specifically in Raleigh tap water. Most municipalities don't test for or remove PFAS from tap water, and most water filters are not designed to remove PFAS. A recent study by Duke University and NC State University revealed elevated levels in of a variety of PFAS compounds in Raleigh tap water.

Lead In Raleigh Drinking Water

Lead enters Raleigh's drinking and tap water through older lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures put in place by the municipality fail (like what recently happened in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into the drinking water, and can reach dangerous levels. Currently, 10% of samples analyzed for lead in Raleigh are less than 3 parts per billion. Though Raleigh's water quality is in compliance with federal regulations, the EPA and CDC have both acknowledged that there is no safe level of lead, and federal regulations do not take into account levels measured at an individual tap. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that any taps used to serve children have lead levels no higher than 1 part per billion.

Chromium 6 In Raleigh Drinking Water

Chromium 6 is an extremely toxic metal that is not currently regulated by the EPA. In recent years, Raleigh tap and drinking water averaged 56 parts per trillion. For the sake of perspective, these levels are 3 times higher than the concentration determined to have negligible impact on cancer risk.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Raleigh Drinking Water

DBPs are a category of emerging contaminants that form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with naturally-occurring organic matter. Although these chemicals are not currently regulated very well, the EPA has admitted that they are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems.

Still Have Questions About Raleigh Drinking Water?

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are being identified in a growing number of municipalities across the United States. San Francisco has not yet tested for PFAS, but several variations have been detected throughout the state of California. Not all water filters are designed to remove PFAS from drinking water.

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each customer's water. The contaminants that we list above are what we consider to be major “points of emphasis” that we use to build water filters that are built specifically for Raleigh, but all of our our filters provide broad protection against a wide range of contaminants (including lead).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Raleigh tap water, or just have questions about water quality in general, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook. We pride ourselves in being a reputable source of information on water quality, and your questions will be answered by scientists, not salespeople (we don't have any salespeople).

Please Share This Raleigh Water Quality Article On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information!

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**Updated June 11, 2021 to include most recent data
Emma Schultz, M.S. | Scientific Contributor

Our Water Nerds have updated our analysis of Durham, North Carolina drinking water to include the most updated data. Our team has aggregated water quality test data from the City of Durham Department of Water Management, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as from samples that we collect and analyze. We cross reference these data with toxicity studies in the scientific and medical literature, and look at upcoming regulatory changes. The water filters that we sell in Durham are optimized with these issues in mind.

Source Of Durham Drinking Water

Durham gets its drinking water from surface water sources. The two primary sources are Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir. Supplementary water is supplied by Jordan Lake and Teer Quarry. The two treatment plants in Durham are the Williams Water Treatment Plant and the Brown Water Treatment Plant.

PFAS In Durham Drinking Water

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS are a category of chemicals found in various non-stick/stain resistant products, as well as fire fighting foam. PFAS are considered to be "emerging contaminants" because they are not currently regulated by EPA, but are known to be toxic, carcinogenic, and persistent in the environment. High levels of PFAS have been detected throughout the entire state of North Carolina, specifically in Durham. Most municipalities don't test for or remove PFAS from tap water, and most water filters are not designed to remove PFAS. A recent study by Duke University and NC State University revealed elevated levels in of a variety of PFAS compounds in Durham tap water. 

Lead In Durham Drinking Water

Lead enters Durham drinking water through older lead service pipes and lead-containing plumbing. When corrosion control measures fail (such as in Flint, Michigan), lead leaches into drinking water and reaches toxic levels. Recent analysis for lead in Durham tap water found 90th percentile concentrations of .003 parts per billion. Although the Action Level for lead is 15 ppb, both the EPA and CDC recognize that there is no such thing safe levels of lead. Of course, federal regulations cannot take into account levels measured at an individual tap.

Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) In Durham Drinking Water

DBPs are a category of emerging contaminants formed when chlorine-based disinfectants combine with naturally-occurring organic matter. While these chemicals are not well regulated, the EPA has explicitly stated that they are linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer, as well as kidney, liver, and central nervous system problems. Both regulated types of DBPs (total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids 5) are elevated in Durham drinking water. 

Use Of Chloramine In Durham Tap Water

While many cities use chlorine as their primary disinfectant, Durham’s water is disinfected with chloramine, made by combining chlorine and ammonia. Chloramine is the frequent culprit when customers report a “bad taste” in their tap water, and unlike chlorine will not fade away if left in the fridge overnight. The recent chloramine running annual average for Durham was 2 parts per million. Most one-size-fits-all water filters use filtration media that don’t adequately remove chloramine, but the filters that Hydroviv builds for Durham use special filtration media that are purpose-built to remove chloramine as well.

Still Have Questions About Durham’s Tap Water?

Hydroviv is a water filtration company that uses water quality data to optimize water filters for each city’s water. The chemicals that we list above are what we consider to be “points of emphasis” so we can build the best water filter for Durham tap water, but all of our water filters provide broad protection against other contaminants commonly found in drinking water (e.g. VOCs, heavy metals [including lead], pharmaceuticals, solvents, pesticides, mercury).

If you’re interested in learning more about water filters that have been optimized for Durham tap water, feel free to visit www.hydroviv.com, reach out by email (hello@hydroviv.com) or through our live chat. We also frequently post water-related news on Twitter or Facebook.

Please Share This City of Durham Water Quality Article On Social Media With Anyone You Think Would Benefit From The Information!

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