Durham, NC Water Source & Treatment
An educational overview of where Durham drinking water comes from, how it’s treated, and where to find the official annual water quality report.
Where Durham Water Comes From
Durham’s drinking water comes from several local surface water reservoirs, including Lake Michie, the Little River Reservoir, and Jordan Lake during periods of higher demand.
These sources collect rainfall and watershed runoff and are managed to provide a reliable supply of drinking water for residents and businesses throughout the Durham area.
How Durham Water Is Treated
Water from Durham’s reservoirs is treated at the Williams Water Treatment Plant and the Brown Water Treatment Plant.
Treatment typically includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to remove particles, microorganisms, and other contaminants before water is delivered to homes. Additional adjustments may be made for corrosion control and distribution system protection.
Official Durham Water Quality Report
The City of Durham publishes an annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) summarizing source information, treatment, and regulated testing results.
Previous year report
View the 2024 Report on This Page
Source: City of Durham Department of Water Management — official annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report).
Additional Water Information (EWG Database)
Some homeowners also explore third-party water databases such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database. This resource compiles publicly available testing data and presents it using its own health-based guidelines.
EWG is not a regulatory agency, and its screening levels may differ from EPA or state drinking water standards. For official compliance reporting, always refer to the City’s annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
Search Durham Water in the EWG Tap Water DatabaseLatest News & Alerts
