North Carolina
How safe is your tap water in North Carolina?
WRAL News tested water from homes across North Carolina for forever chemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). They’re called forever chemicals because of how long PFAS can persist in the environment and the human body.
Studies have linked some PFAS to adverse health effects, including cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency has said exposure to very low levels of some forever chemicals can be harmful. The EPA has proposed limits on six types of PFAS, but there are no current regulations for utilities.
WRAL News used an at-home test kit from Cyclopure to test municipal drinking water for 55 different forever chemicals. The results are validated to one part per trillion (ppt), equivalent to a grain of sand in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Here’s where the highest levels were found:
Fayetteville
Total PFAS: 47.4 ppt
Cumberland County has been in the spotlight in recent years, after researchers discovered Chemours’ Fayetteville chemical plant had tainted the Cape Fear River and surrounding drinking water wells with forever chemicals.
Chemours supplies bottled water to private well owners with total PFAS 10 ppt or above. Cumberland County’s municipal water supply has levels four times that.
WRAL News tested water provided by PWC at a Fayetteville home where Ashley Williams lives with her family, including young children. After seeing the results, Williams switched to bottled water to limit her family’s exposure to the chemicals.
“I did not expect ours to be so high,” Williams said. “We’re paying for our water every month to the city and they’re supposed to be cleaning our water, but obviously they’re not.”
PWC declined requests for an interview, but the utility plans to eventually install granular activated carbon systems at its two treatment facilities, at an estimated cost of $92 million.
WRAL News reviewed the results with Detlef Knappe, a PFAS expert at NC State.
“Personally, I would not like to have the PFAS levels that you found in some of the communities in my water, so I would filter them out,” Knappe said.
Burlington
Total PFAS: 45.2 ppt
The Burlington water sample showed high levels of PFOS and PFOA, types of forever chemicals that have been phased out of production after the compounds were linked to health hazards. The EPA has proposed regulatory limits for those compounds of 4 parts per trillion.
“These results are above the standards that EPA is proposing, so it would be considered unsafe in the future,” Knappe said.
Susan and Rusty Holt have lived at their Burlington home for 35 years and wanted to get their water tested because they were concerned about PFAS exposure.
“It’s scary to think this could impact our health, especially as we get older” Susan Holt said.
“I think the manufacturers of these chemicals should have some responsibility for cleanup,” Rusty Holt said.
Durham
Total PFAS: 8.6
Durham’s PFAS levels were lower than 10 ppt, but levels of PFOS were 3.9. That’s barely under the proposed EPA limit of 4 ppt.
“Regulatory agencies should be given more teeth to protect the drinking water,” said Durham resident Kent Weigle.
Raleigh
Total PFAS: 7.1
Raleigh’s levels were under EPA’s proposed limits.
Ed Buchan with Raleigh Water says the utility uses powdered activated carbon (PAC) in treatment systems to remove some of the PFAS. It looks like a fine black dust and is much cheaper than granular activated carbon (GAC) filters.
Buchan says Raleigh Water will make upgrades to meet the regulatory standards set for PFAS when they are official.
“If we moved to something like GAC, that would probably cost anywhere between $150 to $170 million and that would be paid for by ratepayers,” Buchan said.
Cary
Total PFAS: 5.6
Cary had the lowest levels overall. The municipality also uses a PAC system to treat water.
Kerri Difilipo moved to North Carolina in 2015 and wanted her water tested because she was concerned about PFAS exposure after learning about contamination in other parts of the state.
“That was definitely my biggest fear, that there is something in the water that could impact my health and the health of our children,” Difilipo said.
Follow-up coverage
WRAL 5 on Your Side is examining water filters in a story airing at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 16.
The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 6-2-0, Fireball: 6
Evening: 4-1-7, Fireball: 5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 7-6-9-4, Fireball: 4
Evening: 8-1-5-6, Fireball: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
02-21-32-35-37
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from April 19 drawing
18-26-27-31-42
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
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