Is there PFAS in Johnston Co-west water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Johnston Co-west averaged 10.2 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 2.5 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Johnston Co-west
Serves 99,027 people · 16 PFOA samples from 4 sampling points · Oct 2024 to Sep 2025
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
5.6 ppt avg · max 7.6
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
10.2 ppt avg · max 14.1
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
2.8 ppt avg · max 5.3
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.3 avg · max 0.5
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFHpA, PFBS.
Johnston Co-west is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Smithfield, North Carolina, serving about 99,027 people, including Angier, Benson, Clayton, Four Oaks, Garner, Selma. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 16 times across 4 sampling points between Oct 2024 and Sep 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: HFPO-DA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 6:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 4:2 FTS, PFHpS, PFUnA, 8:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFMBA, PFEESA, PFPeS, ADONA, PFDoA, NFDHA, PFDA, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, PFNA.
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
27501 27504 27520 27524 27527 27529 27576 27577 27592 27603
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 Johnston Co-west water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID NC0351070. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/north-carolina/johnston-co-west/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID NC0351070). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
