We've compiled Durham's real contamination data, the health research the city's website doesn't mention, and a curated list of protection options — from $25 test kits to whole-home systems. Enter your details below to unlock everything.
Here's a preview of what we found in Durham's water. Enter your details to see the full report, health impact breakdown, and the Amazon protection list.
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Durham draws its drinking water from Falls Lake and Lake Michie, both part of the Neuse River watershed. The city's water is treated at the Brown and Williams water treatment plants — but treatment was not designed with PFAS in mind.
PFAS were detected in Durham's supply and reported publicly by the city in 2022. Since then, Durham has announced a $15 million treatment upgrade — but construction won't be complete until 2029. That's years of continued exposure for your family, during which time the only real protection is a point-of-use or whole-home filtration system that's specifically rated for PFAS removal.
Durham's water technically meets most legal requirements. But the EPA's own science advisory boards have stated that PFAS health effects occur at levels far below current legal limits. "Legal" and "healthy" are not the same thing — especially for children and pregnant women.
The EPA set new maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. Durham has until 2029 to comply. Until then, your tap water legally contains PFAS levels that exceed the new health-based limits — with no immediate requirement to fix it.
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See the Protection List →These are products we've tested, researched, and recommend. We earn a small commission from Amazon links at no extra cost to you — it helps us keep this resource free.
Removes 99.9% of PFAS, chlorine, lead, and heavy metals at the point of entry. Rated for homes up to 4 bathrooms. This is what we install most in Durham homes.
5-stage reverse osmosis removes 99.99% of PFAS, lead, nitrates, chlorine, and TDS. Easy DIY install. Perfect for drinking and cooking water. Top pick for Durham renters and homeowners.
Tests for lead, chlorine, nitrates, pH, hardness, and more. Results in 10 minutes. See exactly what's in your water before deciding on a filtration solution. Recommended first step.
No installation needed. Sits on your counter, connects directly to faucet. Removes 200+ contaminants including PFAS and lead. Ideal for apartments and rentals.
Chlorine absorbs through your skin in the shower — often more than through drinking. This filter removes chlorine, chloramine, and heavy metals. 15-minute install.
For families who want a simple, low-cost starting point. Certified to reduce lead, mercury, chlorine, and certain PFAS compounds. Better than bottled water. Worse than RO — but a solid start.
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