What was found in Pawnee'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 | 940 µg/L 9.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3770 µg/L — Pawnee Tribal Complex · 485 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 422.2 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 659.4 µg/L — Pawnee Tribal Complex · 485 people · 2017 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 339 µg/L 8.5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 165.2 µg/L 207% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 176 µg/L — PAWNEE CO RWD #4 · 415 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 72.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 143.5 µg/L — PAWNEE CO RWD #4 · 415 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 140 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2012 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 120.8 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 54.435 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 86.2 µg/L — PAWNEE CO RWD #4 · 415 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 56.86 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 29.26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 44.21 µg/L — PAWNEE CO RWD #3 · 685 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 25.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.105 µg/L — PAWNEE CO RWD #3 · 685 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 36.075 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 36.95 µg/L — PAWNEE COUNTY RWD #5 · 225 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 25.66 µg/L 171% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 8.39 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.77 µg/L — PAWNEE COUNTY RWD #5 · 225 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.6635 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.424 µg/L — PAWNEE CO RWD #4 · 415 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.3075 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.37 µg/L — PAWNEE COUNTY RWD #5 · 225 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 5 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 6.3 µg/L — Pawnee Tribal Complex · 485 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.2 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: Pawnee Tribal Complex · 485 people · 2018 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 4.54 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.8425 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 2.752 pCi/L 18% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 2.3 µg/L 7.7% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.5888 pCi/L 12% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 0.6538 pCi/L — Pawnee Tribal Complex · 485 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PAWNEE · 2,230 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0042 mg/L — Pawnee Tribal Complex · 485 people · 2023 | 5/5 | 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 Pawnee
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PAWNEE | 2,230 |
| PAWNEE CO RWD #3 | 685 |
| Pawnee Tribal Complex | 485 |
| PAWNEE CO RWD #4 | 415 |
| PAWNEE COUNTY RWD #5 | 225 |
Frequently asked questions about Pawnee tap water
Is Pawnee tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Pawnee. 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 Pawnee?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Pawnee, Oklahoma to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Pawnee's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Pawnee include Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, TTHM, Chloroform. 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.