Johnston, NC
Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.
Environmental data for Johnston in North Carolina · Population: 226,623
TRI sites such as Novo Nordisk Dapi-Us; Zehrco-Giancola Composites Inc.; Conestoga Kenly Plant & Sprayroom; SDWIS systems such as JOHNSTON CO-WEST; JOHNSTON CO-EAST; SMITHFIELD, TOWN OF anchor Johnston, NC's EPA extract. Derived burden score 43/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Johnston include SMITHFIELD, TOWN OF; SELMA, TOWN OF; PINE LEVEL, TOWN OF, while Novo Nordisk Dapi-Us leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 43 / peak 84 in 2024.
Burden score 43/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Johnston -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
Release-over-release change
What changed for Johnston, NC: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
+36.8%
12 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
+43.3%
48.7 thousand lb → 69.8 thousand lb, every facility that filed
Between the two reporting years, 2 facilities filed for the first time and 0 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.
- Johnston, NC's total reported releases rose from 48.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 66.7 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Johnston, NC's off-site transfers rose from 3.9 thousand lb in 2022 to 39.2 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Johnston, NC's land releases fell from 250 lb in 2022 to 0 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Johnston, NC's air releases fell from 44.6 thousand lb in 2022 to 27.5 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy (SG) | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 261 (72%) | 104 | 0 | 84 |
| 2023 | 240 (66%) | 124 | 1 | 115 |
| 2022 | 271 (74%) | 93 | 1 | 140 |
| 2021 | 240 (66%) | 125 | 0 | 97 |
| 2020 | 266 (78%) | 73 | 0 | 75 |
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)
For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in North Carolina, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (15)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| JOHNSTON CO-WEST | 99,027 | 0 |
| JOHNSTON CO-EAST | 25,212 | 0 |
| SMITHFIELD, TOWN OF | 12,900 | 2 |
| SELMA, TOWN OF | 6,190 | 1 |
| BENSON, TOWN OF | 4,802 | 0 |
| PINE LEVEL, TOWN OF | 2,413 | 2 |
| FOUR OAKS, TOWN OF | 2,302 | 31 |
| KENLY, TOWN OF | 2,301 | 25 |
| PRINCETON, TOWN OF | 1,653 | 13 |
| SMITHFIELD SOUTH WATER DIST | 803 | 5 |
| SELMA, TOWN OF (COUNTY LINE) | 642 | 5 |
| MICRO, TOWN OF | 470 | 0 |
| PINE LEVEL, TOWN OF (FIRETOWER) | 238 | 12 |
| MICRO, TOWN OF (COUNTY LINE) | 107 | 27 |
| COUNTRY SQUIRE MOBILE ESTATES | 85 | 0 |
TRI Facilities (14)
| # | Facility | Total Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novo Nordisk Dapi-Us | 193.3K lbs |
| 2 | Zehrco-Giancola Composites Inc. | 52.7K lbs |
| 3 | Conestoga Kenly Plant & Sprayroom | 52.4K lbs |
| 4 | Maycraft Boats LLC | 45.6K lbs |
| 5 | Grifols Therapeutics LLC | 30.7K lbs |
| 6 | Blanchard Terminal Co - Selma Buffalo Nc Terminal | 6.2K lbs |
| 7 | Natvar | 4.8K lbs |
| 8 | Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Industries ,lp | 502 lbs |
| 9 | Lampe & Malphrus Lumber Co | 365 lbs |
| 10 | Caterpillar Inc Clayton Nc | 65 lbs |
| 11 | LFC2 | 5 lbs |
| 12 | Argos Ready Mix Smithfield Concrete Plant | 1 lbs |
| 13 | Concrete Supply Co LLC - Selma | 0 lbs |
| 14 | Opw Fueling Containment Systems | 0 lbs |
Cities in Johnston (9)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Johnston, North Carolina? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Johnston? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Johnston? ▼
What is the air quality in Johnston? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Johnston? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Johnston? ▼
What does this county environmental profile show?
This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.