Asbestos in U.S. Drinking Water

Health-based violation data for Asbestos from EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Covers all community water systems with violations on record.

Asbestos has been found in violation of EPA standards in 12 water systems across 7 states, with 152 total health-based violations recorded. The most affected states are Texas, Georgia, Arkansas.

Health-Based Violation Records
152
Water Systems Affected
12
States Affected
7

Asbestos is regulated under the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act, which sets enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and associated treatment technique requirements for public water systems. The EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) tracks every recorded violation nationwide and links it back to the specific public water system (PWSID), violation type, and begin date.

Across the United States, PlainEnviro's joined extract contains 152 health-based violation records carrying Asbestos (EPA code 1094) across 12 active community water systems in 7 states. Raw record counts are highest in Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, with Texas accounting for 98 records across 3 systems. Health-effect prose is shown only when the official ECHO substance name matches a verified topic; otherwise the portal stays silent rather than inventing guidance.

A health-based violation does not mean residents were necessarily harmed, it means the contaminant exceeded the federal MCL in a compliance sample, triggering notification and remediation requirements. States and utilities maintain primary enforcement responsibility. To check the status of a specific water system, request its most recent Consumer Confidence Report or consult the EPA's Drinking Water Watch portal for the corresponding state.

Violations by State

States ranked by number of health-based violations for Asbestos.

# State Violations Systems Affected
1 Texas 98 3
2 Georgia 32 1
3 Arkansas 6 1
4 California 2 2
5 New York 2 1
6 Oklahoma 2 1
7 Arizona 1 1

Most Affected Water Systems

Top 50 water systems by number of Asbestos health-based violations.

Water System State Violations
CITY OF ARP TX 83
REYNOLDS GA 32
CITY OF SHAVANO PARK TX 10
EL DORADO WATERWORKS AR 6
CITY OF DEVINE TX 5
SUFFOLK COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY NY 2
FREDERICK OK 2
NOGALES CITY OF AZ 1
FCWWD 41/SHAVER LAKE CA 1
GREEN ACRES MUTUAL WATER CA 1

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Asbestos in my water?

Asbestos has been detected in violation of EPA health standards in 12 water systems across 7 states. To check your specific utility, look up your annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - water systems are required to disclose all violations.

How many water systems have Asbestos violations?

EPA SDWIS records show 12 community water systems with health-based Asbestos violations, totaling 152 violations. These represent cases where the contaminant exceeded the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).

Which states have the most Asbestos violations?

The states with the most Asbestos violations are: Texas (98 violations), Georgia (32 violations), Arkansas (6 violations), California (2 violations), New York (2 violations).

About This Data

Violation data is from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Only health-based violations are shown, these include Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and Treatment Technique (TT) violations. Monitoring and reporting violations are excluded. Data may not reflect the most current enforcement actions.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SDWIS Federal Reporting Services

Related

Data sourced from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro