What was found in South Lake Tahoe'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 | 527050 µg/L 5271% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 587 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 786.5 µg/L — LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY · 3,277 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 274.25 µg/L 6.9% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 160 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: LAKESIDE PARK ASSOCIATION · 2,648 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 68 µg/L 6.8% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 48.1 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY · 3,277 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.9000 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 44.8 µg/L — LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY · 3,277 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 26.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Combined Uranium | 20.4056 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.903 µg/L — LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY · 3,277 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 12 µg/L 120% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 5.7 µg/L 9.5% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Highest in the city: LAKESIDE PARK ASSOCIATION · 2,648 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 3 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY · 3,277 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 2.525 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKESIDE PARK ASSOCIATION · 2,648 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 2.12 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: TAHOE KEYS WATER COMPANY · 1,420 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY · 3,277 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKESIDE PARK ASSOCIATION · 2,648 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKESIDE PARK ASSOCIATION · 2,648 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 1.1 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Highest in the city: LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY · 3,277 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKESIDE PARK ASSOCIATION · 2,648 people · 2014 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 0.7400 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LAKESIDE PARK ASSOCIATION · 2,648 people · 2014 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.7185 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY · 3,277 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | 0.6900 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0224 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0163 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0065 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0061 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0058 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0053 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0052 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0037 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN · 100,000 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0030 mg/L — LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY · 3,277 people · 2025 | 4/4 | 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 South Lake Tahoe
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN | 100,000 |
| LUKINS BROTHERS WATER COMPANY | 3,277 |
| LAKESIDE PARK ASSOCIATION | 2,648 |
| TAHOE KEYS WATER COMPANY | 1,420 |
Frequently asked questions about South Lake Tahoe tap water
Is South Lake Tahoe tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 31 contaminants in the water serving South Lake Tahoe. 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 South Lake Tahoe?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for South Lake Tahoe, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in South Lake Tahoe's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in South Lake Tahoe include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Nitrite. 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.