Nevada Water Quality Report: 472 Violations Across 111 ZIPs
85 water systems · 111 ZIP codes · 472 violations · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 85 public water systems serving 111 ZIP codes in Nevada. The state record shows 472 EPA violations, 43 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Nevada
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Nevada.
Cities with Most Violations in Nevada
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minden | 103 | 3 | 10,828 | Details → | |
| 2 | Zephyr Cove | 62 | 5 | 1,961 | Details → | |
| 3 | Stateline | 60 | 4 | 2,785 | Details → | |
| 4 | Glenbrook | 37 | 4 | 734 | Details → | |
| 5 | Pahrump | 33 | 8 | 46,091 | Details → | |
| 6 | Silver Springs | 33 | 2 | 7,949 | Details → | |
| 7 | Ely | 27 | 1 | 6,928 | Details → | |
| 8 | Reno | 26 | 9 | 322,956 | Details → | |
| 9 | Gardnerville | 24 | 3 | 25,359 | Details → | |
| 10 | Wellington | 19 | 1 | 3,198 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Nevada
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | Inorganic | 57 | 9 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 27 | 14 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 18 | 7 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 15 | 11 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 15 | 6 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 13 | 9 | No |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 11 | 5 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 9 | 6 | No |
| Copper | Inorganic | 8 | 3 | No |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 7 | 5 | No |
Water Quality Overview
Nevada has 85 community water systems represented across 111 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 3,078,513 people. The available records contain 472 EPA violations, including 43 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 9% of all violations in Nevada. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 43 | 9.1% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 429 | 90.9% |
| Total | 472 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Nevada have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minden | 103 | 3 | 10,828 |
| 2 | Zephyr Cove | 62 | 5 | 1,961 |
| 3 | Stateline | 60 | 4 | 2,785 |
| 4 | Glenbrook | 37 | 4 | 734 |
| 5 | Pahrump | 33 | 8 | 46,091 |
| 6 | Silver Springs | 33 | 2 | 7,949 |
| 7 | Ely | 27 | 1 | 6,928 |
| 8 | Reno | 26 | 9 | 322,956 |
| 9 | Gardnerville | 24 | 3 | 25,359 |
| 10 | Wellington | 19 | 1 | 3,198 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Nevada:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 12 | 12 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 |
| 2024 | 17 | 17 |
| 2025 | 66 | 66 |
Violations have increased from 5 in 2021 to 66 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Nevada water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | Inorganic | 57 | 9 | Yes |
| Lead | Inorganic | 27 | 14 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 18 | 7 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 15 | 11 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 15 | 6 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 13 | 9 | No |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 11 | 5 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 9 | 6 | No |
| Copper | Inorganic | 8 | 3 | No |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 7 | 5 | No |
How to Check Your Water in Nevada
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 937 enforcement actions against water systems in Nevada. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - the legal limit designed to protect human health. Nevada has 43 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Nevada?
Nevada has 85 community water systems with 472 recorded EPA violations, including 43 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Nevada have?
Nevada has 472 total EPA violations across 111 ZIP codes. 43 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Nevada has the worst water quality?
Minden, NV has the most EPA violations among major cities in Nevada with 103 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Nevada has the best water quality?
Several cities in Nevada maintain excellent EPA compliance. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Nevada drinking water?
Nevada water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.