We read 17 results from City of Graham’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 18,354 people · Water system ID NC0201015 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · range 4 to 7.6 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 7 | 5.2 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.3x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · range 4.3 to 7.4 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 7 | 5.4 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.4x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| pHsingle sample · 2025 report, page 6 | 8.6 | — | — | Outside the normal rangeAlkaline water can leave scale |
| Chloraminehighest running annual average · range 1.2 to 3.5 · 2025 report, page 5 | 2.69 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 4 | Not detected | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Not detected |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 17.7 to 38.1 · 2025 report, page 4 | 30.4 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 20.3 to 50.9 · 2025 report, page 4 | 37.2 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridesingle sample · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.49 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 4 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)average · range ND to 2.21 · 2025 report, page 8 | 1 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| PFNA (a PFAS)average · range ND to 0.67 · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.17 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Sulfatesingle sample · 2025 report, page 6 | 184 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| PFBA (a PFAS)average · range 1.8 to 3.5 · 2025 report, page 8 | 2.77 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · range 6.4 to 10.6 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 7 | 7.7 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)single sample · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 7 | 3.5 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFPeA (a PFAS)single sample · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 7 | 3.4 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumsingle sample · 2025 report, page 6 | 30.4 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in City of Graham’s water between Nov 2023 and Aug 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA7.6 pptFound in 4 of 4 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS7.4 pptFound in 4 of 4 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFBS10.6 pptFound in 4 of 4 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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