What was found in Needles'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 | 1390 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 837810 µg/L — PALMS RIVER RESORT · 531 people · 2017 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 2300 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8100 µg/L — PALMS RIVER RESORT · 531 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1810 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2985 µg/L — PALMS RIVER RESORT · 531 people · 2017 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 108 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2025 | 2/7 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 36.96 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 92 µg/L — Avi Casino · 3,001 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 44.5 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 71 µg/L — Avi Kwa Ame Farms North · 40 people · 2017 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 6.32 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 52 µg/L — Avi Casino · 3,001 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 41 µg/L 3.2% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 11.3166 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.731 µg/L — Avi Kwa Ame Farms North · 40 people · 2017 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 16 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: PALMS RIVER RESORT · 531 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 15.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 15.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 13.72 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 5.94 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13 µg/L — PALMS RIVER RESORT · 531 people · 2017 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 11.845 pCi/L 79% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: Avi Kwa Ame Farms North · 40 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 8.53 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 7.18 µg/L 72% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.59 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.14 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 2.3 µg/L 115% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 2 µg/L Highest in the city: PALMS RIVER RESORT · 531 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.395 pCi/L 28% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: Avi Kwa Ame Farms North · 40 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 1.39 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.275 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0034 mg/L 23% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: NEEDLES, CITY OF · 8,766 people · 2025 | 7/7 | LCR |
| 2,3,7,8-TCDD | 0.000029 µg/L 97% of the EPA limit 0.000030 µg/L Highest in the city: Avi Kwa Ame Farms North · 40 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
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 Needles
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| NEEDLES, CITY OF | 8,766 |
| Arizona Village | 3,211 |
| Avi Casino | 3,001 |
| California Village | 1,290 |
| Mesquite Creek | 650 |
| PALMS RIVER RESORT | 531 |
| Avi Kwa Ame Farms North | 40 |
Frequently asked questions about Needles tap water
Is Needles tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 26 contaminants in the water serving Needles. 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 Needles?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Needles, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Needles's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Needles include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Lithium, 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.