What was found in Palmer's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1032.2 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8520 µg/L — SHOOTING STAR CIRCLE · 52 people · 2019 | 25/31 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 529 µg/L 5.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2300 µg/L — CRIMSON VIEW S/D WATER ASSN. · 118 people · 2014 | 6/31 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 230.8 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1120 µg/L — UNIFIED ALASKAN UTILITIES-FIELD OF VIEW · 135 people · 2019 | 26/31 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 166 µg/L 4.2% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2013
Highest in the city: 796 µg/L — UNIFIED ALASKAN UTILITIES-FIELD OF VIEW · 135 people · 2019 | 4/31 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 48.73 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2013
Highest in the city: 88 µg/L — VIOLET CIRCLE WATER COMPANY · 35 people · 2019 | 24/31 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 27.011 µg/L 54% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMWELL ON THE GREEN (MHP) · 33 people · 2013 | 2/31 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 21 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMWELL ON THE GREEN (MHP) · 33 people · 2013 | 2/31 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 20.8 µg/L 208% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: SHEENA MAY ESTATES · 74 people · 2019 | 8/31 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 3.9155 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.27 µg/L — NORTH STAR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM · 55 people · 2018 | 26/31 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 11.096 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019 | 3/31 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 6.2 pCi/L 124% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2017 | 5/31 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 4.2885 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019 | 2/31 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 3.026 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019 | 3/31 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.777 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 2.57 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMWELL ON THE GREEN (MHP) · 33 people · 2017 | 2/31 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.255 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.5 µg/L — TWIN PEAKS · 37 people · 2019 | 3/31 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.37 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: TWIN PEAKS · 37 people · 2019 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 1.1 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2019 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.05 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMWELL ON THE GREEN (MHP) · 33 people · 2017 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.8480 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: HILL TIMBER ESTATES · 120 people · 2019 | 2/31 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 0.6680 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMWELL ON THE GREEN (MHP) · 33 people · 2013 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.3900 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: EQUESTRIAN ACRES · 950 people · 2017 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.1280 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMWELL ON THE GREEN (MHP) · 33 people · 2013 | 1/31 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0023 mg/L 15% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PALMER WATER SYSTEM · 8,111 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0130 mg/L — VIOLET CIRCLE WATER COMPANY · 35 people · 2024 | 31/31 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Palmer
Frequently asked questions about Palmer tap water
Is Palmer tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Palmer. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Palmer?
31 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Palmer, Alaska to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Palmer's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Palmer include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.