What was found in Tahlequah'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 | 2332.5 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1010 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 862 µg/L 86% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 373.8 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 393.65 µg/L — CORRAL KREEK SUBDIV · 273 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 80.22 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 148.775 µg/L — STICKROSS MOUNTAIN WATER CO · 3,250 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 54.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 123 µg/L — STICKROSS MOUNTAIN WATER CO · 3,250 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 67.92 µg/L 113% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 100.65 µg/L — STICKROSS MOUNTAIN WATER CO · 3,250 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 34.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 64.525 µg/L — STICKROSS MOUNTAIN WATER CO · 3,250 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 42.65 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 61 µg/L — Cherokee Kenwood Water District · 487 people · 2014 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 23.34 µg/L 156% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 30 µg/L — CORRAL KREEK SUBDIV · 273 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 28.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 9.512 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 26.275 µg/L — STICKROSS MOUNTAIN WATER CO · 3,250 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 17.68 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.75 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO. RWD #8 (BRIGGS) · 413 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.5235 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.188 µg/L — Cherokee Kenwood Water District · 487 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.6185 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.7 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO. RWD #8 (BRIGGS) · 413 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 3.727 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.06 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.1135 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO. RWD #3 (GRANDVIEW) · 2,300 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.82 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.86 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO. RWD #8 (BRIGGS) · 413 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.445 pCi/L 29% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 0.7992 pCi/L 5.3% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| PFBS | 0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2024 | 1/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2024 | 1/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2024 | 1/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: TAHLEQUAH PWA · 14,458 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0022 mg/L — STICKROSS MOUNTAIN WATER CO · 3,250 people · 2024 | 6/6 | 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 Tahlequah
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| TAHLEQUAH PWA | 14,458 |
| STICKROSS MOUNTAIN WATER CO | 3,250 |
| CHEROKEE CO. RWD #3 (GRANDVIEW) | 2,300 |
| Cherokee Kenwood Water District | 487 |
| CHEROKEE CO. RWD #8 (BRIGGS) | 413 |
| CORRAL KREEK SUBDIV | 273 |
Frequently asked questions about Tahlequah tap water
Is Tahlequah tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Tahlequah. 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 Tahlequah?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Tahlequah, Oklahoma to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Tahlequah's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Tahlequah include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Chlorite, Copper, TTHM. 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.