What was found in Carson City'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 | 6580 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 6460 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1740 µg/L 44% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 200 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 14.5 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 178 µg/L — SIERRA ESTATES GID · 170 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 87.29 µg/L 145% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 77.19 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 75.86 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 59.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 74.4 µg/L — INDIAN HILLS GID · 5,962 people · 2025 | 2/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Barium | 69.4 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 70 µg/L — SIERRA ESTATES GID · 170 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 56.585 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 38.148 µg/L 127% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 30 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 33.06 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 13 µg/L 130% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 11.055 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 10 pCi/L 67% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 6.34 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 4.544 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.952 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.21 pCi/L 64% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.5300 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.9 µg/L — INDIAN HILLS GID · 5,962 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.8 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.3365 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| 2,4-D | 0.1700 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.1395 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0050 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: INDIAN HILLS GID · 5,962 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: INDIAN HILLS GID · 5,962 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0027 mg/L 18% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS · 59,000 people · 2023 | 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 Carson City
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CARSON CITY PUBLIC WORKS | 59,000 |
| INDIAN HILLS GID | 5,962 |
| SIERRA ESTATES GID | 170 |
| TERRACE GARDEN APARTMENTS | 60 |
Frequently asked questions about Carson City tap water
Is Carson City tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Carson City. 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 Carson City?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Carson City, Nevada to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Carson City's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Carson City include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrite, Copper. 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.