Is there PFAS in Brookwood Comm Wtr System water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Brookwood Comm Wtr System averaged 26.6 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 6.7 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Brookwood Comm Wtr System
Serves 15,380 people · 42 PFOA samples from 21 sampling points · Feb 2024 to Sep 2025
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
26.6 ppt avg · max 27.5
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
25.1 ppt avg · max 33.3
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
19.0 ppt avg · max 25.6
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
1.9 avg · max 2.6
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFBA.
Brookwood Comm Wtr System is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Cary, North Carolina, serving about 15,380 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 42 times across 21 sampling points between Feb 2024 and Sep 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: 8:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFDA, PFMBA, PFEESA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFDoA, 4:2 FTS, NMeFOSAA, PFUnA, 6:2 FTS, HFPO-DA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFNA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFTA, ADONA, PFHpS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in North Carolina
All 291 tested systems in North Carolina
ZIP codes served
28304 28306 28314
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Brookwood Comm Wtr System water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID NC0326127. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/north-carolina/brookwood-comm-wtr-system/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID NC0326127). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
