What was found in Elko's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 9800 µg/L 98% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 9520 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 680 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 240 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 150 µg/L 7.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 59 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Combined Uranium | 41 µg/L 137% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 30 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 25 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 19 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 10 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 9 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 7.6 pCi/L 51% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 5.1 µg/L 8.5% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 5 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 5 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 4.9 µg/L 98% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.7 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.6 pCi/L 32% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 1 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.9700 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 0.8900 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.4500 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.1000 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.0460 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0290 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0150 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0082 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0079 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpes | 0.0070 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0030 mg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 4/4 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Elko
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ELKO CITY OF | 23,000 |
| NEVADA YOUTH TRAINING CENTER | 100 |
| TUSCARORA WATER SYSTEM | 72 |
| SOUTH CRESTVIEW ASSOCIATION | 60 |
Frequently asked questions about Elko tap water
Is Elko tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 37 contaminants in the water serving Elko. 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 Elko?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Elko, Nevada to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Elko's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Elko include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. The full list, with the highest level found 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.