Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Cary?
Yes, Cary's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Cary has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Cary's water utility, Town of Cary, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Cary was resolved on Dec. 31, 2014. This assessment is based on the Town of Cary water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Cary Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Cary tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Cary's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Cary Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Town of Cary for Cary in North Carolina. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Dec. 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2014, Cary had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine Major (TCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Coliform (TCR).
From Nov. 1, 2014 to Nov. 30, 2014, Cary had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine Major (TCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Coliform (TCR).
From Oct. 1, 2014 to Oct. 31, 2014, Cary had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine Major (TCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Coliform (TCR).
From Oct. 1, 2014 to Dec. 31, 2014, Cary had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Chloramine.
From Sept. 1, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2014, Cary had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine Major (TCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Coliform (TCR).
From July 1, 2014 to Sept. 30, 2014, Cary had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Chloramine.
Is there Lead in Cary Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Cary water system, Town of Cary, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Cary water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Cary contained more lead.
While Cary water testing may have found 0.0 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Cary Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Morrisville AASF #1 - near Cary with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Cary has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Cary SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/01/2014 - 12/31/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Routine Major (TCR) (23) | Total Coliform Rule (110) | Coliform (TCR) (3100) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
| 11/01/2014 - 11/30/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Routine Major (TCR) (23) | Total Coliform Rule (110) | Coliform (TCR) (3100) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
| 10/01/2014 - 10/31/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Routine Major (TCR) (23) | Total Coliform Rule (110) | Coliform (TCR) (3100) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
| 10/01/2014 - 12/31/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) | Chloramine (1006) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) |
| 09/01/2014 - 09/30/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Routine Major (TCR) (23) | Total Coliform Rule (110) | Coliform (TCR) (3100) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
| 07/01/2014 - 09/30/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) | Chloramine (1006) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (210) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Cary Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | 1400 Wimberly Rd APEX, NC, 27523 |
Existing customers can login to their Town of Cary account to pay their Cary water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Town of Cary bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Cary water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Cary water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Cary means you will often need to put the water in your name with Town of Cary. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Cary means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Town of Cary. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.81 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Cary, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Contaminants
Cary
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 145000
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 18
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Bromate
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chloroform
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
Other Detected Contaminants
- 1%2C4-Dioxane
- Bromoform
- Chlorate
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Monobromoacetic acid
- Strontium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
Cary Tap Water
Cary is located in Apex County, North Carolina, and has a population of around fifteen thousand. Cary is home to three major corporations, and these companies employ a majority of the residents. Cary is serviced by nine public treatment facilities, including four municipal treatment centers. Cary has a diverse range of residents with many minorities, single-parent families, older people, and professionals.
Cary has one of the highest percentages of overweight and obese people in the United States. One of the main reasons for this is that most of the population has no access to clean, pure tap water. Cary is committed to providing clean, purified drinking water to all of its residents. It has invested a great deal of time and money in educating its citizens on the importance of using a shower head filter. This has lowered the occurrence of persons using unqualified certified installers to do the job.
Chlorine is the most commonly found chemical found in tap water in North America. The American Medical Association and the American Heart Association have stated that chlorine should not be used in public water systems. When chlorine dissipates into the atmosphere, it contaminates other areas of the environment. When you take a shower in unfiltered tap water, you are exposing yourself to the potential carcinogens present in the chlorinated water. When you see the yellowish or greenish stains on your hair, you may also suffer from health issues caused by exposure to chlorinated water.
Cary Drinking Water
Cary, North Carolina, is a city in the state of North Carolina. It is known for being one of the top destinations for people seeking jobs in the Raleigh area. Cary is also a cultural center of the state of North Carolina. Many events, such as musical theaters and art shows, are held at this venue each year. This is a great place to take a weekend or extended stay when visiting Raleigh. Most hotels are within walking distance of the many attractions in the area, making Cary an excellent place for overnight accommodations.
When searching for drinking water purification equipment in Cary, you will notice that there are quite a few choices. This is a good thing because you will find a product that will best suit your needs. Cary has four treatment facilities with four different types of filters; spring, catchment, ion exchange, and direct filtration. Each of these products is designed to treat the water supply that comes into the city. Some people prefer to purchase more than one type of filtering system to have access to the filters they need for any situation.
Drinking water purification equipment is essential when traveling to any destination. Cary is no exception. With the number of options available, you should be able to find a system that best suits your needs while on vacation.
Cary Water Treatment
Cary Water Treatment Plant is situated at Hillsborough in Cary. The Cary Water Treatment Plant is responsible for the supply of untreated drinking water in Cary. This is the main water distribution point for all the residents in the area. In addition to providing safe water for the people, the plant also includes quality treated water for various industries. These industries include industries that manufacture chemical products and require a particular water purification method.
The Cary water treatment plant not only purifies the water for drinking, but it also purifies it for bathing and other in-house uses like laundry and dishes. The chemicals present in the water are mainly present due to impurities in the air and soil. Cary is prone to certain types of chemicals and pollutants that may affect its residents adversely. Cary has good weather conditions. Hence, people don’t have to spend much on water and necessary to spend much on electricity. However, both these necessities have increased over time, and Cary is looking forward to conserving natural sources of these essentials.
Some of the most common chemicals that are present in the water are chlorine, THMs (chlorination byproducts), VOCs (volatile organic compounds), SO2 (sulfur dioxide), and others. There are other common chemicals, but they do not affect the taste or quality of the water. It would be best if you remembered that what is in the water has been there for a long time, so you cannot expect that something new will soon become harmful. One of the methods that the Cary water treatment plant uses is carbon filtration. This method is usually carried out on campus faucets. In this process, carbon is used in a tremendous amount. Hence, it becomes necessary to ensure that the water is purified thoroughly.
Water in Cary
It seems that most of the North Carolina residents have become more concerned about water purification as the city of Cary undergoes a water quality audit conducted by the APPEA. Cary was found to have higher than average VOCs or volatile organic compounds during the recent audit. Those chemicals can harm the human body, especially if they are subjected to breathing problems or skin irritation. The water that enters your home is also a potential carrier of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It would help if you took extraordinary measures to make sure that it is safe to use.
One of the water purification technology you need to keep an eye on is a good water filter system. There are those devices that attach to the faucet or showerhead. Others are portable or countertop units. Still, others are whole house filters that filter water from all of the water outlets in your home. No matter where the water comes from, it is best that you filter it. Suppose you filter the water before it enters your home. In that case, chances are you are filtering contaminants that you don’t need and could end up replacing them with the water from the tap. If you filter the water before you drink it, you will also be avoiding the chance of ingesting traces of toxic metals from the water that might taint your health.
For water purification technology in Cary, you might want to check out Aquasana. This is one of the latest products in water purification technology. It uses patented technologies such as carbon filtration and ion exchange to provide you with great-tasting, clear water. It doesn’t take much to make a positive change in how you look at the water. Take a look around, and you’ll likely find a great water purification technology product for your home.
Cary Water Systems
Cary water systems have been installed in some of the best homes in North Carolina. Cary is home to the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is a beautiful area of land. This area was created to channel the power of the Indian tribes to resettle their lands. These tribes were warriors first and now have developed many farming and gathering techniques that are still used today. The water from these old rivers and streams is very pure and clean, running with no chlorine or other chemicals used for its production.
Cary has about two hundred water treatment plants located throughout the city. All of the systems are highly efficient, but none are as cost-effective as the Cary system. These systems are extremely energy efficient and use only thirty-five cents per gallon of water produced. The Cary water system saves money on your water bill. It helps to protect the environment because the water is free from chemicals.
If you live in a home that does not have a water source or want to upgrade your current system, it is straightforward to find a good strategy in Cary. Many distributors can be found online, and many Cary water supply companies have catalogs and information on using their systems. It is a good idea to call a few companies and get information on the different products they offer and how the system works. This will help you decide which company to use to get your water source and help your family stay healthy.