Is Raleigh, North Carolina Shower Water Safe? What's In Your Water (2026)
Khat Cruz
Last updated: April 2026.
Is Raleigh, North Carolina Shower Water Safe?
Population: 479,332 · Water Source: Falls Lake, Lake Benson, Lake Wheeler
For health-conscious consumers in Raleigh, North Carolina, understanding what's in your shower water is crucial for skin, hair, and respiratory well-being. While Raleigh's tap water meets federal drinking standards, contaminants present can still impact your daily shower experience and long-term health, making it vital to be informed about its composition.
💧 Where Does Raleigh's Water Come From?
Primary Source: Falls Lake, Lake Benson, Lake Wheeler
Raleigh's drinking water primarily originates from these three surface water reservoirs. The water undergoes a comprehensive treatment process at the city's water treatment plants, involving coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to remove impurities and ensure safety.
Treatment: Chloramination (chlorine and ammonia), Filtration, Sedimentation, Coagulation
🔬 What's In Raleigh's Shower Water?
Here are the key contaminants detected in Raleigh's water supply based on real testing data from the EWG Tap Water Database:
| Contaminant | Level Found | EPA Limit | EWG Guideline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) | 19.89 ppb | No federal limit | 0.060 ppb | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (332x above) |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 15.73 ppb | 60.0 ppb | 0.100 ppb | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (157x above) |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | 21.70 ppb | 80.0 ppb | 0.150 ppb | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (145x above) |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.23 ppb | No federal limit | 0.060 ppb | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (87x above) |
| Dichloroacetic acid | 11.38 ppb | No federal limit | 0.200 ppb | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (57x above) |
| Trichloroacetic acid | 3.90 ppb | No federal limit | 0.100 ppb | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (39x above) |
| Chloroform | 14.46 ppb | No federal limit | 0.400 ppb | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (36x above) |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.09 ppb | No federal limit | 0.100 ppb | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (21x above) |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) | 0.333 pCi/L | 5.0 pCi/L | 0.050 pCi/L | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (7x above) |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) | 0.0000 ppt | 4e-06 ppt | 0.0000 ppt | ⚠️ Exceeds EWG Health Guideline (5x above) |
Contaminant Details
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
The health guideline of 0.06 ppb for haloacetic acids (HAA9) was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer.
Comparison: State average: 31.30 ppb. National average: 23.70 ppb.
Shower Impact: These disinfection byproducts become airborne in hot shower steam. You can inhale and absorb them through your skin, potentially increasing your exposure beyond just drinking water.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
The health guideline of 0.1 ppb for haloacetic acids (HAA5) was defined by as . This health guideline protects against cancer.
Comparison: State average: 21.83 ppb. National average: 19.82 ppb.
Shower Impact: These disinfection byproducts become airborne in hot shower steam. You can inhale and absorb them through your skin, potentially increasing your exposure beyond just drinking water.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
The health guideline of 0.15 ppb for trihalomethanes was defined by in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-one-million lifetime cancer risk level. as a draft public health goal, the level of drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.
Comparison: State average: 35.74 ppb. National average: 29.06 ppb.
Shower Impact: These disinfection byproducts become airborne in hot shower steam. You can inhale and absorb them through your skin, potentially increasing your exposure beyond just drinking water.
Bromodichloromethane
The health guideline of 0.06 ppb for bromodichloromethane was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
Comparison: State average: 7.17 ppb. National average: 5.89 ppb.
Shower Impact: These disinfection byproducts become airborne in hot shower steam. You can inhale and absorb them through your skin, potentially increasing your exposure beyond just drinking water.
Dichloroacetic acid
The health guideline of 0.2 ppb for dichloroacetic acid was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
Comparison: State average: 11.92 ppb. National average: 8.00 ppb.
Shower Impact: These disinfection byproducts become airborne in hot shower steam. You can inhale and absorb them through your skin, potentially increasing your exposure beyond just drinking water.
Trichloroacetic acid
The health guideline of 0.1 ppb for trichloroacetic acid was defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
Comparison: State average: 8.56 ppb. National average: 6.57 ppb.
Shower Impact: These disinfection byproducts become airborne in hot shower steam. You can inhale and absorb them through your skin, potentially increasing your exposure beyond just drinking water.
Chloroform
The health guideline of 0.4 ppb for chloroform was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
Comparison: State average: 24.24 ppb. National average: 16.20 ppb.
Shower Impact: These disinfection byproducts become airborne in hot shower steam. You can inhale and absorb them through your skin, potentially increasing your exposure beyond just drinking water.
Dibromochloromethane
The health guideline of 0.1 ppb for dibromochloromethane was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.
Comparison: State average: 2.88 ppb. National average: 3.55 ppb.
Shower Impact: These disinfection byproducts become airborne in hot shower steam. You can inhale and absorb them through your skin, potentially increasing your exposure beyond just drinking water.
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
The health guideline of for radium, combined (-226 and -228) was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as . This health guideline protects against cancer.
Comparison: State average: 0.173 pCi/L. National average: 0.332 pCi/L.
Shower Impact: Radioactive contaminants can become aerosolized in shower steam and inhaled, adding to overall exposure.
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
The health guideline of 0.3 ppt for PFOS was defined by EWG based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water. This health guideline cardiovascular harm and harm to fetal growth.
Comparison: State average: 0.0000 ppt. National average: 0.0000 ppt.
Shower Impact: Contaminants in shower water can be absorbed through the skin and inhaled as steam, increasing your daily exposure beyond what you get from drinking water alone.
🧴 How Raleigh's Water Affects Your Skin, Hair & Health
When you shower, contaminants in the water don't just wash off — they're absorbed through your skin and inhaled as steam. Here's how Raleigh's water quality may be affecting you:
🧖 Skin Effects
- Dry, itchy skin, especially for eczema sufferers, due to chloramines and hard water.
- Exacerbation of skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis from irritants and mineral residue.
- Potential for premature skin aging and irritation from disinfection byproducts.
- Soap scum buildup on skin, hindering effective cleansing and leading to dullness.
💇 Hair Effects
- Dry, brittle, and frizzy hair due to chloramines stripping natural oils.
- Dullness and lack of shine from hard water mineral buildup.
- Color fading in treated hair caused by chlorine and mineral interactions.
- Difficulty lathering shampoos and conditioners, leading to increased product use.
🫁 Respiratory Effects
- Irritation of nasal passages and lungs from inhaled chloramine vapors.
- Increased risk of asthma symptoms or respiratory discomfort for sensitive individuals due to disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in steam.
- Potential for long-term respiratory issues from chronic inhalation of DBPs.
- Strong chemical smell (chlorine-like) during showering, indicating vaporized irritants.
✅ What You Can Do About It
Test Your Shower Water
A home water test kit can provide specific data on contaminants and hardness levels in your Raleigh home, giving you a clearer picture of what you're showering in.
Install a Quality Shower Filter
A good shower filter can significantly reduce chloramines, chlorine, heavy metals, and some disinfection byproducts, improving water quality for your skin and hair.
Improve Bathroom Ventilation
Running an exhaust fan or opening a window during and after your shower helps to reduce the concentration of inhaled chloramine and DBP vapors.
Limit Shower Duration and Temperature
Shorter, cooler showers can reduce skin absorption of contaminants and minimize the amount of steam (and thus inhaled vapors) you're exposed to.
Moisturize Immediately After Showering
Applying a good moisturizer to damp skin within minutes of showering helps to lock in hydration and combat the drying effects of treated water.
Protect Your Skin & Hair From Raleigh's Water
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Related Reading
- why your skin feels dry after showering
- nitrate contamination in water
- hexavalent chromium in water
- shower water quality in Durham, North Carolina
- shower water quality in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Is Raleigh tap water safe to shower in?
While Raleigh's tap water meets federal safety standards for drinking, the presence of chloramines, disinfection byproducts, and hardness minerals can lead to skin dryness, hair damage, and respiratory irritation, especially for sensitive individuals. It's generally safe, but improvements can be made for comfort and long-term health.
Why does my Raleigh shower water smell like chlorine?
Raleigh uses chloramines for disinfection, which can create a distinct chemical odor, particularly when heated in a shower. This smell indicates the presence of these disinfectants and their potential to volatilize into the air you breathe and absorb into your skin.
Does Raleigh's hard water affect my skin and hair?
Yes, Raleigh's water has moderate hardness. The minerals (calcium and magnesium) in hard water can prevent soaps and shampoos from lathering effectively, leave a film on your skin and hair, leading to dryness, irritation, and dullness, and can exacerbate conditions like eczema.
What kind of shower filter is best for Raleigh water?
For Raleigh's chloraminated water, look for shower filters specifically designed to reduce chloramines, not just chlorine. Filters using KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) media combined with activated carbon are often effective at tackling both chloramines and other common contaminants.
Can Raleigh's shower water cause or worsen eczema?
Yes, the chloramines and hardness minerals in Raleigh's shower water can strip natural oils from the skin, leading to dryness and irritation. For individuals with eczema, this can worsen symptoms, trigger flare-ups, and make skin more sensitive and inflamed.
