Turbidity in U.S. Drinking Water
Health-based violation data for Turbidity from EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Covers all community water systems with violations on record.
Turbidity has been found in violation of EPA standards in 168 water systems across 6 states, with 900 total health-based violations recorded. The most affected states are Oklahoma, New York, California.
Turbidity 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 900 health-based violation records carrying Turbidity (EPA code 0100) across 168 active community water systems in 6 states. Raw record counts are highest in Oklahoma, New York, California, with Oklahoma accounting for 99 records across 38 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 Turbidity.
| # | State | Violations | Systems Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 99 | 38 |
| 2 | New York | 23 | 2 |
| 3 | California | 8 | 2 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 4 | 1 |
| 5 | West Virginia | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Kansas | 1 | 1 |
Most Affected Water Systems
Top 50 water systems by number of Turbidity health-based violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Turbidity in my water?
Turbidity has been detected in violation of EPA health standards in 168 water systems across 6 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 Turbidity violations?
EPA SDWIS records show 168 community water systems with health-based Turbidity violations, totaling 900 violations. These represent cases where the contaminant exceeded the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).
Which states have the most Turbidity violations?
The states with the most Turbidity violations are: Oklahoma (99 violations), New York (23 violations), California (8 violations), North Carolina (4 violations), West Virginia (2 violations).
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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
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.