North Carolina vs Virginia
Statewide drinking water quality comparison — violation rates, PFAS prevalence, and system-level risk
Quick Answer
Virginia has a lower open-violation rate (0.0% vs. 0.2%). North Carolina has 277 utilities with PFAS records (44.4%) vs. 160 in Virginia (40.9%).
NC · 624 utilities
0.2%
Open violation rate
44.4%
PFAS detection rate
0
High/critical risk
100.0%
Safe/low risk
VA · 391 utilities
0.0%
Open violation rate
40.9%
PFAS detection rate
0
High/critical risk
100.0%
Safe/low risk
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | North Carolina | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Total Utilities | 624 | 391 |
| Population Served | 9,400,000 | 7,342,539 |
| Well Water % | 35% on private wells | 28% on private wells |
| Open Violation Rate | 0.2%(1 utilities) | 0.0%(0 utilities) |
| PFAS Detection Rate | 44.4%(277 utilities) | 40.9%(160 utilities) |
| High/Critical Risk Utilities | 0 | 0 |
| Safe/Low Risk Rate | 100.0%(624 utilities) | 100.0%(391 utilities) |
| Top Contaminants |
State Profiles
North Carolina
North Carolina has 624 community water systems serving approximately 9.4 million residents. Primary water sources include surface water. The most commonly reported contaminants include disinfection byproducts, lead. 35% of North Carolina residents rely on private wells. NCDEQ holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Highest-Risk Systems
Virginia
Virginia has 391 community water systems serving approximately 7.3 million residents. Primary water sources include surface water. The most commonly reported contaminants include disinfection byproducts, nitrates. 28% of Virginia residents rely on private wells. DEQ holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Key Differences
Open violation rate: North Carolina at 0.2% vs. Virginia at 0.0%. Virginia has a lower rate of systems with unresolved health-based violations.
PFAS detection: North Carolina has PFAS records at 44.4% of utilities vs. 40.9% in Virginia. Rates reflect UCMR 5 monitoring (2023–2025).
Well water reliance: North Carolina (35% on private wells) vs. Virginia (28% on private wells). Private well users are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and should test independently.