What was found in Novato'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 | 1830 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 278 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 155.2 µg/L 3.9% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 52.763 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 75.931 µg/L — NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.748 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 59.198 µg/L — NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 33.808 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 16.6 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.495 µg/L — NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.145 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.35 µg/L — NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 6.885 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.178 µg/L — NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 12.5975 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.845 µg/L — NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 8.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.285 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.9 µg/L — NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 6.35 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 3.9735 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2015 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.68 pCi/L 54% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2012 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.675 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 0.0678 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.0223 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES · 1,841 people · 2015 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT · 61,691 people · 2023 | 2/2 | 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 Novato
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| NORTH MARIN WATER DISTRICT | 61,691 |
| NORTH MARIN WD - PT. REYES | 1,841 |
Frequently asked questions about Novato tap water
Is Novato tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Novato. 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 Novato?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Novato, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Novato's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Novato include Nitrate, Barium, Fluoride, TTHM, Bromoform. 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.