We read 14 results from City of Kinston’s 2024 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 2 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 27,475 people · Water system ID NC0454010 · Read the district’s 2024 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2024 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)single sample · printed as 0.0048 ppb · Wells and distribution · 2024 report, page 2 | 4.8 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.2x 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)single sample · printed as 0.0081 ppb · Wells and distribution · 2024 report, page 2 | 8.1 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20292x 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. |
| Chloraminehighest running annual average · range 1 to 4 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 2 | 2.81 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 1 to 4 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 2 | 2.05 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 1 | 0.2 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 38.7 to 38.7 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 2 | 20.3 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 2.7 to 49.1 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2024 report, page 2 | 34.4 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.17 to 0.75 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2024 report, page 2 | 0.75 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2024 report, page 1 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 1.08 to 1.08 · listed as a violation in the report · Wells · 2024 report, page 2 | 1.08 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFBA (a PFAS)single sample · printed as 0.0058 ppb · Wells and distribution · 2024 report, page 2 | 5.8 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)single sample · printed as 0.0031 ppb · Wells and distribution · 2024 report, page 2 | 3.1 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)single sample · printed as 0.0034 ppb · Wells and distribution · 2024 report, page 2 | 3.4 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFPeA (a PFAS)single sample · printed as 0.0036 ppb · Wells and distribution · 2024 report, page 2 | 3.6 ppt | 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 Kinston’s water between Oct 2024 and Jul 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA4.8 pptFound in 3 of 28 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS8.5 pptFound in 9 of 28 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS3.4 pptFound in 4 of 28 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS3.8 pptFound in 3 of 28 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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