New Hanover County tap water is a top question for relocating buyers, and the utility’s own reports tell a more detailed story than the headlines. This is the New Hanover County deep dive in my Cape Fear water series. For the big-picture overview — what GenX and PFAS are and how the three counties compare — start with Water in Wilmington, NC: What Every Buyer Asks.
If you’re relocating to Wilmington and you’ve read anything about the Cape Fear River, you’ve probably landed on the big question: what’s actually in the tap water, and how do I check? New Hanover County is where the GenX story broke in 2017, so it’s a fair thing to ask. The good news is that CFPUA publishes its treatment details and test results, so you can look at the numbers yourself. Here’s the straight version.
I’m a REALTOR®, not a toxicologist — everything below is sourced from public utility records, EPA guidance, and local reporting, with links throughout.
The short answer on New Hanover County tap water
Here’s what the utility reports. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) — which serves the city of Wilmington and most of unincorporated New Hanover County — reports that it now filters PFAS and GenX out of its drinking water to at or near non-detect levels, and has since 2022. You can check the current numbers on CFPUA’s Latest PFAS Test Results page and its Drinking Water Quality reports.
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What CFPUA actually does
CFPUA’s Sweeney Water Treatment Plant draws raw water from the Cape Fear River — the same river that runs past the old Chemours/DuPont Fayetteville Works plant upstream. To deal with what’s in that water, CFPUA completed a major upgrade in 2022, adding eight deep-bed granular activated carbon (GAC) filters — which CFPUA describes as one of the largest GAC systems of its kind in the country.
GAC is one of only two technologies (along with reverse osmosis) proven to meaningfully reduce PFAS in drinking water. Since those filters came online, CFPUA’s regular testing has shown PFAS and GenX at or near non-detect in the finished water that reaches your tap. That’s a dramatic improvement over the pre-2022 numbers that made national news.
The catch with GAC is that it loses effectiveness the longer the media is used, so CFPUA is now exchanging the carbon more frequently — which adds roughly $1 million a year to operating costs but keeps treatment aggressive. All told, CFPUA reports having spent around $91 million addressing PFAS, and it’s suing Chemours and DuPont to recover those costs rather than putting the whole bill on ratepayers.
The one wrinkle: ultrashort-chain PFAS
Here’s the honest nuance. GAC is excellent at capturing the longer-chain PFAS people worry about most (PFOA, PFOS, GenX), but it’s less effective at “ultrashort-chain” compounds like PFMOAA, PFPrA, and TFA, which CFPUA still detects in small amounts and reports transparently on its emerging contaminants page. The science and regulations on these ultrashort compounds are still developing, and no conventional treatment fully removes them yet. It’s not unique to Wilmington — it’s a frontier issue nationwide — but it’s worth knowing.
Three things every New Hanover buyer should know
1. Not every New Hanover address is on CFPUA. Most are, but pockets of the county — and some newer developments — use private wells or a small private utility. Check the top of the water bill on the seller’s disclosure to confirm who actually serves the property, or look it up by ZIP on the EWG Tap Water Database.
2. CFPUA also runs a groundwater plant. In addition to Sweeney (river water), CFPUA operates the Richardson Nanofiltration Plant, which treats groundwater from the Castle Hayne aquifer for part of the system. Different source, different treatment — CFPUA reports that both meet federal standards.
3. “Near non-detect” isn’t literally zero. CFPUA reports that its water meets every current federal standard, including the EPA’s 2024 limit of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS. If you want your household exposure at functionally zero — including those ultrashort compounds — an under-sink filter is the move (see below).
What buyers can actually do
If you want to drop your home’s PFAS exposure to functionally zero regardless of utility:
- Reverse osmosis (RO) filter under the kitchen sink — $200 to $500 installed, brings PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and most other PFAS down to non-detect at the tap you actually drink from. This is the move I’d personally consider, especially if you want extra peace of mind. Health agencies note that infants, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems can be more sensitive to contaminants.
- Whole-house GAC system — bigger investment ($1,500–$4,000) but treats every fixture. Worth pricing if you’re already remodeling.
- On a well? Add a full PFAS panel to your inspection contingency — the standard well test won’t catch PFAS. Clean Cape Fear keeps a current list of local testing resources.
The bottom line
Of the three Cape Fear counties, New Hanover / CFPUA is the one where the public utility has already installed large-scale PFAS treatment. CFPUA reports that its water meets every current federal standard and tests at or near non-detect for the PFAS most people worry about. Knowing the difference between “legally compliant” and “optimal” — and where the ultrashort-chain frontier still sits — is just good due diligence, the same way you’d check flood zones or insurance quotes before you write an offer.
Frequently asked questions
Who provides tap water in New Hanover County, NC?
The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) serves the city of Wilmington and most of unincorporated New Hanover County. Not every address is on CFPUA: pockets of the county and some newer developments use private wells or a small private utility. Check the top of the water bill on the seller’s disclosure, or look the property up by ZIP in the EWG Tap Water Database.
How does CFPUA treat Wilmington’s water for PFAS and GenX?
CFPUA’s Sweeney Water Treatment Plant, which draws from the Cape Fear River, added eight deep-bed granular activated carbon (GAC) filters in 2022. CFPUA reports that its regular testing since then has shown PFAS and GenX at or near non-detect in finished water. The current numbers are posted on CFPUA’s Latest PFAS Test Results page.
Does CFPUA’s filtration remove ultrashort-chain PFAS?
Not fully. GAC is less effective at ultrashort-chain compounds such as PFMOAA, PFPrA, and TFA, which CFPUA still detects in small amounts and reports on its emerging contaminants page. No conventional treatment fully removes these compounds yet.
Does CFPUA water meet the EPA’s 2024 PFAS limits?
Based on CFPUA’s reported testing, its water meets current federal standards, including the EPA’s 2024 limit of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS. For the most recent results, check CFPUA’s Drinking Water Quality and Latest PFAS Test Results pages.
How can a Wilmington homeowner reduce PFAS at the tap?
An under-sink reverse osmosis filter runs about $200 to $500 installed and brings PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and most other PFAS to non-detect at that tap. A whole-house GAC system costs about $1,500 to $4,000 and treats every fixture. If the home is on a well, add a full PFAS panel to your inspection contingency, since a standard well test won’t catch PFAS.
House hunting in Wilmington, Ogden, Porters Neck, or anywhere in New Hanover County and want help confirming which utility serves a specific home — or a referral to a local water-testing lab? Reach out anytime at 910-983-8963.
Keep reading: Brunswick County water guide · Pender County water guide · The big-picture Wilmington water overview · The New Hanover County buyer’s guide
Tabetha Klein is a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage in Wilmington, NC, serving New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties. This post is informational and is not health, legal, or environmental advice. Always consult licensed professionals for testing and treatment decisions on your specific property. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Sources & further reading
- CFPUA: Drinking Water Quality
- CFPUA: Sweeney Treatment Enhancements Project (GAC)
- CFPUA: Latest PFAS Test Results
- CFPUA: Emerging Contaminants (ultrashort-chain PFAS)
- EPA: PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (2024)
- Clean Cape Fear: Water testing resources
- Environmental Working Group: Tap Water Database
