We read 27 results from Truckee Meadows Water Authority’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 8 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 442,000 people · Water system ID NV0000190 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
Open this district in the water lookupCompare with your own test results, see the district map and get matched filters.
Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antimonyas reported · range ND to 5 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.4 ppb | 1 ppb | 6 ppb | Above the health goal2.4x the health goal |
| Arsenicas reported · range ND to 14.3 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 6.9 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal1,725x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)as reported · range ND to 3.4 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 3.4 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 14 · printed as 0.014 ppb · System (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 3 | 14 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.4x the 10 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 10 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 5.3 · printed as 0.0053 ppb · System (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 3 | 5.3 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.3x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029Not a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)as reported · range ND to 1.8 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 1.8 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)as reported · range ND to 1.6 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.6 ppb | 0.06 ppb | 5 ppb | Above the health goal27x the health goal |
| Uraniumas reported · range ND to 4.3 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 4.3 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal7.2x the health goal |
| 1,1-Dichloroethyleneas reported · range ND to 1 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 3 | 1 ppb | 7 ppb | 7 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Bariumas reported · range 0.01 to 0.12 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.12 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorineas reported · range 0.22 to 1.98 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 2 | 1.09 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chromium (total)as reported · range ND to 6.2 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 6.2 ppb | None set | 100 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.11 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)as reported · range ND to 43 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 2 | 29 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)as reported · range ND to 56 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 2 | 34 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadieneas reported · range ND to 0.11 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.11 ppb | 50 ppb | 50 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Mercuryas reported · range ND to 0.23 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.23 ppb | 1.2 ppb | 2 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)as reported · range ND to 7.6 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 7.6 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Seleniumas reported · range ND to 3.2 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 3.2 ppb | 30 ppb | 50 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Trichloroethylene (TCE)as reported · range ND to 1.6 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.6 ppb | 1.7 ppb | 5 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · Treatment plants · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.18 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Lithiumhighest measured · range ND to 100 · System (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 3 | 100 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Nickelas reported · range ND to 10.3 · Water sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 10.3 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 3.9 · printed as 0.0039 ppb · System (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 3 | 3.9 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFHxA (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 3.2 · printed as 0.0032 ppb · System (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 3 | 3.2 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFPeA (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 4.8 · printed as 0.0048 ppb · System (UCMR 5) · 2025 report, page 3 | 4.8 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Truckee Meadows Water Authority’s water between Jan 2023 and Sep 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA5.5 pptFound in 3 of 142 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS20 pptFound in 6 of 142 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS15 pptFound in 18 of 142 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS5.7 pptFound in 9 of 142 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium100 ppbFound in 15 of 142 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228), Uranium
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFHxS (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Industrial chemicals and pesticides
Found: Tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
What removes it: Carbon block or RO.
More districts: Nevada water quality · All states · Something look wrong? Tell us