Gross Alpha in U.S. Drinking Water
Health-based violation data for Gross Alpha from EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Covers all community water systems with violations on record.
Gross Alpha has been found in violation of EPA standards in 7,199 water systems across 49 states, with 7,598 total health-based violations recorded. The most affected states are Texas, California, Oklahoma.
Gross Alpha 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, SDWIS records show 7,598 health-based violations for Gross Alpha affecting 7,199 community water systems in 49 states. Violation counts cluster heaviest in Texas, California, Oklahoma, with Texas alone accounting for 1,058 violations across 1,015 systems. EPA health-effect summaries describe the specific exposure concerns that drove the federal standard.
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.
What are the health effects of this contaminant?
Gross alpha radiation in water can come from naturally occurring radionuclides. Long-term exposure above EPA limits is linked to increased cancer risk.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult your doctor for personalized health guidance U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult your doctor for personalized health guidance
Violations by State
States ranked by number of health-based violations for Gross Alpha.
| # | State | Violations | Systems Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 1,058 | 1,015 |
| 2 | California | 516 | 514 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 473 | 471 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 325 | 298 |
| 5 | Mississippi | 259 | 206 |
| 6 | Puerto Rico | 232 | 232 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 226 | 220 |
| 8 | Arizona | 190 | 167 |
| 9 | Louisiana | 190 | 174 |
| 10 | Florida | 175 | 175 |
| 11 | New Mexico | 174 | 172 |
| 12 | Illinois | 148 | 148 |
| 13 | Michigan | 132 | 108 |
| 14 | Ohio | 132 | 132 |
| 15 | Connecticut | 121 | 121 |
| 16 | New York | 116 | 116 |
| 17 | Maryland | 107 | 103 |
| 18 | Oregon | 85 | 82 |
| 19 | Indiana | 83 | 67 |
| 20 | Idaho | 68 | 61 |
| 21 | Alaska | 60 | 57 |
| 22 | Colorado | 48 | 39 |
| 23 | South Carolina | 45 | 41 |
| 24 | Vermont | 29 | 29 |
| 25 | Washington | 27 | 27 |
| 26 | Nevada | 25 | 25 |
| 27 | Alabama | 22 | 20 |
| 28 | New Jersey | 14 | 12 |
| 29 | U.S. Virgin Islands | 14 | 14 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | 13 | 13 |
| 31 | Kentucky | 11 | 11 |
| 32 | South Dakota | 10 | 10 |
| 33 | Minnesota | 9 | 8 |
| 34 | North Dakota | 8 | 8 |
| 35 | Virginia | 8 | 7 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | 7 | 7 |
| 37 | Missouri | 7 | 6 |
| 38 | Wyoming | 7 | 7 |
| 39 | Utah | 5 | 5 |
| 40 | District of Columbia | 3 | 3 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 3 | 3 |
| 42 | Kansas | 3 | 3 |
| 43 | Tennessee | 3 | 3 |
| 44 | Delaware | 2 | 2 |
| 45 | Georgia | 2 | 2 |
| 46 | Iowa | 2 | 2 |
| 47 | Montana | 2 | 2 |
| 48 | Maine | 1 | 1 |
| 49 | Rhode Island | 1 | 1 |
Most Affected Water Systems
Top 50 water systems by number of Gross Alpha health-based violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gross Alpha in my water?
Gross Alpha has been detected in violation of EPA health standards in 7,199 water systems across 49 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 Gross Alpha violations?
EPA SDWIS records show 7,199 community water systems with health-based Gross Alpha violations, totaling 7,598 violations. These represent cases where the contaminant exceeded the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).
Which states have the most Gross Alpha violations?
The states with the most Gross Alpha violations are: Texas (1,058 violations), California (516 violations), Oklahoma (473 violations), North Carolina (325 violations), Mississippi (259 violations).
Explore More
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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SDWIS Federal Reporting Services
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.