Durham's annual Consumer Confidence Report is written by water utility engineers for regulatory compliance. It's not designed to be read by the family who just wants to know: "Is what's coming out of my tap safe for my kids?" We've translated it. Here's what Durham's water actually contains — in plain English.
Where Durham's Water Comes From
Durham draws its drinking water from two surface water reservoirs: Falls Lake and Lake Michie. Both are within the Neuse River basin. Falls Lake is shared with other Triangle municipalities. Lake Michie is Durham's backup and supplemental source.
After collection, water is treated at one of two plants — the Brown Water Treatment Plant or the T.W. Williams Water Treatment Plant — using a combination of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. Both plants use chlorination (and/or chloramination) as the primary disinfectant.
The problem: standard treatment was designed for biological contamination (bacteria, viruses, protozoa). It was not designed — and is not effective — at removing synthetic chemical contaminants like PFAS.
Contaminant-by-Contaminant Breakdown
PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)
Status: Confirmed present in treated water · Legal limit under old rules: No previous MCL · New EPA MCL (2024): 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS individually
Durham began voluntary PFAS monitoring in 2018. Results have been shared publicly through quarterly updates and community meetings. Specific PFAS compounds detected include PFOA and PFOS (the two most heavily studied) as well as several other PFAS compounds linked to Chemours and industrial sources in North Carolina.
The City of Durham has announced a $15 million powdered activated carbon (PAC) treatment upgrade specifically to address PFAS. Construction is underway but completion is not expected before 2029.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Status: Present and tracked · EPA Legal Limit: 80 micrograms/liter (µg/L) · Durham Level: Varies seasonally; reported in annual CCR
TTHMs are formed when chlorine (used to disinfect water) reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in source water. They include four compounds: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform. All four are classified as possible or probable human carcinogens by the EPA and IARC. Long-term consumption at elevated levels is associated with increased bladder cancer risk and adverse reproductive outcomes.
TTHM levels fluctuate seasonally in Durham — typically higher in warmer months when organic matter in source water is higher. Durham's levels have historically been within legal limits but represent a real chronic exposure risk with daily consumption over years.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Status: Present · EPA Legal Limit: 60 µg/L · Durham Level: Reported annually in CCR
HAA5 is a group of five haloacetic acids — another class of chlorination byproduct. Like TTHMs, they form when chlorine reacts with organic matter. HAA5 compounds are classified as likely human carcinogens by the EPA. Long-term exposure has been linked to increased cancer risk (particularly bladder and colorectal) and reproductive harm.
Lead
Status: Varies by home · EPA Action Level: 15 µg/L at tap · Health-Based Goal: Zero
Lead does not come from Durham's source water or treatment plants. It enters drinking water through corrosion of lead service lines, lead solder in older plumbing, and lead-containing brass fixtures. The EPA's "action level" of 15 µg/L is not a safety threshold — it's a trigger level for utility action. The CDC and EPA both state that there is no safe level of lead for children.
Durham homes built before 1986 (when lead solder in plumbing was banned) or before 1978 (when lead-based paint was banned) are at highest risk. Durham has been working to identify and replace lead service lines through its lead service line replacement program.
Chlorine / Chloramine
Status: Present by design · EPA Maximum: 4 mg/L for chlorine; 4 mg/L for chloramine · Durham Level: Maintained as residual disinfectant throughout distribution system
Chlorine is not a contaminant in the regulatory sense — it's added intentionally to prevent biological regrowth as water travels through pipes. At the levels present in Durham's water, it won't cause acute harm. But chronic daily exposure to chlorine and chloramines is a gut health concern. The microbiome does not distinguish "safe" chlorine from the kind that kills pathogens.
Nitrates
Status: Generally within legal limits · EPA MCL: 10 mg/L · Durham Level: Typically below 2 mg/L in treated water
Nitrates come from agricultural runoff and fertilizer. Durham's levels are generally low, but nitrates are particularly dangerous for infants under six months. High nitrate exposure in infants can cause "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) — a potentially fatal oxygen deprivation condition. Infant formula should never be made with water showing elevated nitrates.
What Durham's CCR Doesn't Tell You
Durham's annual Consumer Confidence Report is legally required to disclose detected contaminants above regulatory action levels. But several important pieces of information are typically absent:
- PFAS data in health context (the report lists levels but doesn't explain the new EPA health-based limits or how Durham compares)
- Cumulative risk from multiple contaminants — each contaminant is evaluated individually, not as the combined cocktail you actually consume
- Information specific to your neighborhood or your home's age and plumbing type
- Comparison of legal limits to health-based guidelines (which are often much lower)
- Information on what filtration actually works
Our translation of Durham's water quality: The water is treated, distributed safely, and meets most current federal requirements. But it contains PFAS at levels the EPA's own new science considers concerning, disinfection byproducts that accumulate health risk with chronic exposure, and potential lead in older homes. The "legally safe" designation is not the same as "health-optimized."
What to Do With This Information
You have several options, at different levels of investment:
- Do nothing (not recommended for families with children) — wait for Durham's 2029 fix and accept ongoing exposure
- Start with a test kit ($25–$30) — get your home's specific water profile before making decisions
- Install a point-of-use filter ($150–$2,500) — protects drinking and cooking water from PFAS, lead, and chlorination byproducts
- Install a whole-home system ($1,500–$4,000) — protects all water including showers (chlorine exposure), laundry, and appliances