What was found in Saipan'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 | 6100 µg/L 61% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 128 µg/L 3.2% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 71 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 69.375 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 58.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 33 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 30.15 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 21 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 15.2 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 10.5194 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 9.15 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 8 pCi/L 53% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.305 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.56 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.7750 pCi/L 16% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.1800 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.1338 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.1216 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0323 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0321 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0229 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.0220 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| PFHXS | 0.0196 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0146 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| 6:2 Fts | 0.0125 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpes | 0.0054 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0025 mg/L 17% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) · 48,524 people · 2025 | 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 Saipan
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth Utilities Corp (Saipan) | 48,524 |
| Black Micro Corporation Tinian | 150 |
| Popz Purified Drinking Water | 100 |
| Crystal Ice And Water | 30 |
Frequently asked questions about Saipan tap water
Is Saipan tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Saipan. 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 Saipan?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Saipan, MP to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Saipan's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Saipan include Nitrate, Fluoride, Cyanide, Xylenes, Total, Lithium. 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.