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Explore water quality data in your area.
About SimpleLab’s Water Quality Search Data
The results shown here reflect water quality data relevant to your water source and the address entered in SimpleLab’s Water Quality Search tool. Data coverage varies by region and data source. As such, not all data will be available at every address. Data sources for the tool are described below.
Nearby average water quality – Tap Score
Households and businesses across the U.S. test their water with SimpleLab’s Tap Score test kits, which measure water quality for hundreds of parameters. Each water quality report receives a Tap Score to measure overall water quality. Scores range from 1 (very poor water quality) to 99 (high water quality) and reflect drinking water quality health risks combined with pipe and aesthetic concerns. SimpleLab collects and aggregates Tap Score results for utility and groundwater-reliant customers to present an average utility or groundwater Tap Score within a given distance of your address.
Utility Water Data
Federal Data Sources: SDWIS, ECHO, UCMR 4
SimpleLab collects data from utilities across the US. Data on the characteristics of utilities comes from reporting by community water systems to EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information Systems. Community water systems are those that serve more than 25 people or at least 15 connections year round. These systems report information about their source water, population, the ownership of the system, violations, and enforcement data. All water systems are required to submit water quality data for compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). SimpleLab imports this federal data from various public sources including the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Compliance and Enforcement History (ECHO) databases and Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). SimpleLab compiles data from the previous 5-year period.
The Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4) is a process in which EPA monitors contaminants they believe could be in drinking water, but for which there are no regulations. UCMR 4 requires monitoring for 30 chemicals between 2018 and 2020. EPA uses this data to understand the occurence of data across US utilities and develops a new list of contaminants to monitor every 5 years. SimpleLab uses UCMR 4 sample results and treatment, disinfection, and residual disinfection information for water samples at community water systems taken at the entry point to the distribution system or within the distribution system since the monitoring period began in 2017.
State Data Sources
SimpleLab has also collected, transformed, and characterized 90MM+ water sample results provided by 45 U.S. state agencies that compile sample results from water systems as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act. SimpleLab compiles data from the previous 10-year period. Though this data is publicly available, a majority of the data were collected through FOIA requests because states did not provide readily available, machine readable sample data.
When you search an address, our system attempts to find water systems that serve the county of your address. Exact geographical service boundaries are not available for most water systems in the country, so we may not be able to match your address to water systems perfectly. EPA makes no guarantees about the data accuracy of water systems, and we cannot do so either.
Groundwater and Surface Water Data
SimpleLab sources groundwater and surface water sample results from Tap Score customers and over 400 state, federal, tribal, and local agencies, managed by the National Water Quality Monitoring Council. The database includes more than 300MM national water quality results from SimpleLab, the US Geological Survey’s National Water Information System (NWIS), Environmental Protection Agency’s Storage and Retrieval data warehouse (STORET), and the US Department of Agriculture’s Sustaining Earth’s Watersheds - Agricultural Research Database System (STEWARDS). All of these sources are centralized and sourced from the National Water Quality Monitoring Portal (WQP).
Utility Water Glossary
Compliance and Violations
SimpleLab collects data from utilities across the US. Data on their compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and any attending enforcement actions comes from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System and the EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online databases.
Current Compliance Status: This data represents the utility's most recent compliance status with EPA. With respect to a drinking water regulation, a utility can be "in compliance", a "serious violator", or have "violation identified". Compliance status is updated quarterly.
Lead & Copper Rule Monitoring Violations: Utilities of all types must comply with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). Utilities are required to monitor lead and copper at the tap for connections in their service area. Monitoring protocols and frequency are dependent on system size and prior compliance with LCR. A utility that fails to comply with tap water monitoring requirements receives a violation. This data represents the total number of LCR monitoring violations in the utility from the prior 5 year period.
Maximum Contaminant Level Violations: EPA sets primary drinking water regulations known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL). The MCL is the highest level that a contaminant is allowed in drinking water. Utilities sample water and test for regulated contaminants. When the concentration values exceed MCLs, a water system is in violation of a drinking water regulation. This data represents the total number of MCL-related violations a utility has had in the prior 5 year period.
Number of times Compliance Achieved: Utilities that were previously in violation are re-evaluated by EPA to ensure the utility returns to compliance. This data represents the number of enforcement actions where a utility achieved compliance with drinking water regulations in the last 5 years.
Time In or Out of Compliance: This data represents the percentage of the previous 12 quarters, or 3 years, that the utility has been in compliance or out of compliance with respect to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Unique Enforcement Actions: The number of distinct enforcement actions taken at the utility in the prior 5 year period. Enforcement actions include informal (i.e. notifications) and formal (legal) enforcement action types.
Violations Notices Given Utilities: are given notices when they are in violation of drinking water regulations. These notices are part of the enforcement process for the Safe Drinking Water Act. This data represents the total number of notifications related to drinking water violations that a utility has received in the previous 5 year period.
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 4 (UCMR 4)
The Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4) is a process in which EPA monitors contaminants they believe could be in drinking water, but for which there are no regulations. UCMR 4 requires monitoring for 30 chemicals between 2018 and 2020. EPA uses this data to understand the occurence of data across US utilities and develops a new list of contaminants to monitor every 5 years. SimpleLab uses UCMR 4 sample data and treatment information for water samples at community water systems taken at the entry point to the distribution system or within the distribution system.
UCMR 4 Monitoring: All large water systems and a random sample of 1,600 smaller systems are monitored under UCMR 4 and sample data is made public quarterly. In total, 5,892 out of nearly 50,000 community water systems are monitored for UCMR4. If you are served by a utility serving less than 10,000 people, it is unlikely that your utility is part of the UCMR 4 monitoring schedule.
Treatment, Disinfection, and Residual Disinfection
UCMR 4 regulated utilities provide information about the treatment, disinfection, and residual disinfection processes used in their water systems. SimpleLab summarizes treatment, disinfection, and residual disinfection information across all UCMR 4 samples taken within the utility since the monitoring period began in 2017.
Disinfectant Type: A utility can list disinfectant processes used to disinfect drinking water. Disinfection types aim to purify drinking water of microbiologicals. Water Quality Search lists all relevant disinfectant types.Examples include chloramine, chlorine dioxide, or ozone. A utility may report that no disinfectant/oxidant was used.
Disinfectant Residual Type: A utility can list disinfectant residual processes used to disinfect drinking water once it has left the treatment facility. Residual disinfectant ensures water treatment continues within the distribution system to tap water. Water Quality Search lists all relevant residual disinfectant types. Examples include chlorine, chloramines, or chlorine dioxide. A utility may report that no disinfectant residual was used.
Treatment Type: A utility under UCMR 4 is required to list all treatment processes used on drinking water samples. Water Quality Search lists all relevant treatment processes, ranging from membrane filtration to disinfection to fluoridation. A utility may report that they "do not know" or that no treatment is used.
Water Quality Results
SimpleLab has over 1.5 million water quality results nationwide. This section aggregates all water samples collected through SimpleLab's water testing service, Tap Score. The contaminant summaries shown here reflect all water samples from a utility-supplied tap within 5 miles of the address entered into Water Quality Search. If the utility selected is monitored under UCMR 4, the contaminant results for UCMR 4 regulated contaminants are included below.
Avg (Average Concentration): The average of all water quality measurements for a specific parameter within the search radius.
Parameter: The name of the analyte measured in drinking water.
PPB: parts per billion, a parts-per unit notation used to measure the concentration of a contaminant in water. 1 PPB = 1 ug/L.
PPM: parts per million, a parts-per unit notation used to measure the concentration of a contaminant in water. 1 PPM = 1 mg/L.
PPT: parts per trillion, a parts-per unit notation used to measure the concentration of a contaminant in water. 1 PPT = 1 ng/L.
Type: The general chemical class of the contaminant. Examples include Heavy Metals, Fertilizers, VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), and SVOC (Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds).
Utility Water Glossary
Nearby Water Quality Overview
Based on the address entered into the Water Quality Search tool, this section summarizes tap water quality concerns and general properties of nearby water samples. The data in this section is powered by SimpleLab’s database of Tap Score samples. Learn more about data sources here.
Average Water Quality: SimpleLab calculates an average Tap Score based on all Tap Scores from the water source selected within 5 miles of the address entered into the Water Quality Search. The Average Tap Score is shown on the map and on the bar plot as the Tap Scores near you. National and state-wide Tap Score averages are also shown.
General Water Chemistry: SimpleLab calculates average values for general water chemistry parameters based on all Tap Score tests selected within 5 miles of the address entered into the Water Quality Search. SimpleLab calculates the average Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) and Total Hardness.
Hardness: Total hardness is the sum of all hardness-contributing metals and minerals in your water. Mostly representative of calcium and magnesium, total hardness also includes contributions by barium, copper, zinc, iron, strontium and more. Water hardness may cause scaling and bad tasting tap water. Hardness contributes to white film on glassware and can make soap bubbles difficult to form.
Langelier Saturation Index: The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) is used as an indicator of the corrosive or scale forming potential of your water. LSI measures the ability of water to dissolve or deposit calcium carbonate, which is often used as an indicator of water's corrosivity. For LSI = 0, water is saturated with calcium carbonate and therefore scale is not formed or dissolved. For LSI < 0, water is under saturated and tends to dissolve calcium carbonate. This is an indicator of corrosivity and cloud signal risk to metal pipes. For LSI > 0, water is super saturated and tends to precipitate and form scale.
Tap Score: Tap Score is a water quality scoring system developed by SimpleLab. People and businesses using SimpleLab’s water testing service receive a Tap Score for their water quality sample. SimpleLab’s Tap Score algorithms evaluate the many ways which drinking water quality impacts people–through their health, through smells, odors, and tastes, and in their pipe infrastructure. Each water sample receives a Tap Score. The lowest possible Tap Score is 0 (worst) and the highest possible Tap Score is 99 (best).
Utility Data
SimpleLab collects data from utilities across the US. Data on the characteristics of utilities comes from reporting by community water systems to EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information Systems. Communities with more than 25 people year round. These systems report information about their source water, population, and the ownership of the system. Learn more about data sources here.
Population Served: Number of people reportedly served by the selected utility.
Ownership Type: Utilities have a variety of ownership structures. Ownership type reflects the legal and governance structure of a utility and can be: Federal government, Local government, Native American, State Government, Private, or a combination of Public and Private.
Water Source: Utilities rely on a variety of water sources. One utility may have multiple water system facilities, each with a different water source. The primary water source types are surface water (reservoirs), groundwater (aquifers), or mixed surface and groundwater. The bars displayed here represent the fraction of water system facilities that rely on these different water sources.
Compliance and Violations
SimpleLab collects data from utilities across the US. Data on their compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and any attending enforcement actions comes from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System and the EPA's Enforcement and Compliance History Online databases.
Current Compliance Status: This data represents the utility's most recent compliance status with EPA. With respect to a drinking water regulation, a utility can be "in compliance", a "serious violator", or have "violation identified". Compliance status is updated quarterly.
Lead & Copper Rule Monitoring Violations: Utilities of all types must comply with the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). Utilities are required to monitor lead and copper at the tap for connections in their service area. Monitoring protocols and frequency are dependent on system size and prior compliance with LCR. A utility that fails to comply with tap water monitoring requirements receives a violation. This data represents the total number of LCR monitoring violations in the utility from the prior 5 year period.
Maximum Contaminant Level Violations: EPA sets primary drinking water regulations known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL). The MCL is the highest level that a contaminant is allowed in drinking water. Utilities sample water and test for regulated contaminants. When the concentration values exceed MCLs, a water system is in violation of a drinking water regulation. This data represents the total number of MCL-related violations a utility has had in the prior 5 year period.
Number of times Compliance Achieved: Utilities that were previously in violation are re-evaluated by EPA to ensure the utility returns to compliance. This data represents the number of enforcement actions where a utility achieved compliance with drinking water regulations in the last 5 years.
Time In or Out of Compliance: This data represents the percentage of the previous 12 quarters, or 3 years, that the utility has been in compliance or out of compliance with respect to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Unique Enforcement Actions: The number of distinct enforcement actions taken at the utility in the prior 5 year period. Enforcement actions include informal (i.e. notifications) and formal (legal) enforcement action types.
Violations Notices Given Utilities: are given notices when they are in violation of drinking water regulations. These notices are part of the enforcement process for the Safe Drinking Water Act. This data represents the total number of notifications related to drinking water violations that a utility has received in the previous 5 year period.
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 4 (UCMR 4)
The Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4) is a process in which EPA monitors contaminants they believe could be in drinking water, but for which there are no regulations. UCMR 4 requires monitoring for 30 chemicals between 2018 and 2020. EPA uses this data to understand the occurence of data across US utilities and develops a new list of contaminants to monitor every 5 years. SimpleLab uses UCMR 4 sample data and treatment information for water samples at community water systems taken at the entry point to the distribution system or within the distribution system.
UCMR 4 Monitoring: All large water systems and a random sample of 1,600 smaller systems are monitored under UCMR 4 and sample data is made public quarterly. In total, 5,892 out of nearly 50,000 community water systems are monitored for UCMR4. If you are served by a utility serving less than 10,000 people, it is unlikely that your utility is part of the UCMR 4 monitoring schedule.
Treatment, Disinfection, and Residual Disinfection
UCMR 4 regulated utilities provide information about the treatment, disinfection, and residual disinfection processes used in their water systems. SimpleLab summarizes treatment, disinfection, and residual disinfection information across all UCMR 4 samples taken within the utility since the monitoring period began in 2017.
Disinfectant Type: A utility can list disinfectant processes used to disinfect drinking water. Disinfection types aim to purify drinking water of microbiologicals. Water Quality Search lists all relevant disinfectant types.Examples include chloramine, chlorine dioxide, or ozone. A utility may report that no disinfectant/oxidant was used.
Disinfectant Residual Type: A utility can list disinfectant residual processes used to disinfect drinking water once it has left the treatment facility. Residual disinfectant ensures water treatment continues within the distribution system to tap water. Water Quality Search lists all relevant residual disinfectant types. Examples include chlorine, chloramines, or chlorine dioxide. A utility may report that no disinfectant residual was used.
Treatment Type: A utility under UCMR 4 is required to list all treatment processes used on drinking water samples. Water Quality Search lists all relevant treatment processes, ranging from membrane filtration to disinfection to fluoridation. A utility may report that they "do not know" or that no treatment is used.
Water Quality Results
SimpleLab has over 1.5 million water quality results nationwide. This section aggregates all water samples collected through SimpleLab's water testing service, Tap Score. The contaminant summaries shown here reflect all water samples from a utility-supplied tap within 5 miles of the address entered into Water Quality Search. If the utility selected is monitored under UCMR 4, the contaminant results for UCMR 4 regulated contaminants are included below.
Avg (Average Concentration): The average of all water quality measurements for a specific parameter within the search radius.
Parameter: The name of the analyte measured in drinking water.
PPB: parts per billion, a parts-per unit notation used to measure the concentration of a contaminant in water. 1 PPB = 1 ug/L.
PPM: parts per million, a parts-per unit notation used to measure the concentration of a contaminant in water. 1 PPM = 1 mg/L.
PPT: parts per trillion, a parts-per unit notation used to measure the concentration of a contaminant in water. 1 PPT = 1 ng/L.
Type: The general chemical class of the contaminant. Examples include Heavy Metals, Fertilizers, VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), and SVOC (Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds).
Does this data represent my own water quality?
For the best information about water quality at your tap, we highly recommend you test at home. Tap Score and local labs offer dependable water quality testing services nationwide.
Disclaimer:While water quality near the search address may represent water quality risks to your tap, there are several important considerations to note. If your tap water comes from a utility, most water quality samples and violations records relate to water quality at some point in the water distribution system rather than at your own tap. If your tap water comes from groundwater or surface water, average concentrations of water quality contaminants nearby do not necessarily reflect the quality of your tap water. The most accurate water data about your tap requires tap water testing.
SimpleLab works tirelessly to produce the best possible data, but in some cases, publicly available data may be inaccurate or incomplete. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee the accuracy of these results or any interpretations based on inaccurate data.
Does this data represent my own water quality?
For the best information about water quality at your tap, we highly recommend you test at home. Tap Score and local labs offer dependable water quality testing services nationwide.
Disclaimer:While water quality near the search address may represent water quality risks to your tap, there are several important considerations to note. If your tap water comes from a utility, most water quality samples and violations records relate to water quality at some point in the water distribution system rather than at your own tap. If your tap water comes from groundwater or surface water, average concentrations of water quality contaminants nearby do not necessarily reflect the quality of your tap water. The most accurate water data about your tap requires tap water testing.
SimpleLab works tirelessly to produce the best possible data, but in some cases, publicly available data may be inaccurate or incomplete. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee the accuracy of these results or any interpretations based on inaccurate data.
Does this data represent my own water quality?
For the best information about water quality at your tap, we highly recommend you test at home. Tap Score and local labs offer dependable water quality testing services nationwide.
Disclaimer:While water quality near the search address may represent water quality risks to your tap, there are several important considerations to note. If your tap water comes from a utility, most water quality samples and violations records relate to water quality at some point in the water distribution system rather than at your own tap. If your tap water comes from groundwater or surface water, average concentrations of water quality contaminants nearby do not necessarily reflect the quality of your tap water. The most accurate water data about your tap requires tap water testing.
SimpleLab works tirelessly to produce the best possible data, but in some cases, publicly available data may be inaccurate or incomplete. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee the accuracy of these results or any interpretations based on inaccurate data.