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 947 water systems across 48 states, with 8,487 total health-based violations recorded. The most affected states are Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico.
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, SDWIS records show 8,487 health-based violations for Turbidity affecting 947 community water systems in 48 states. Violation counts cluster heaviest in Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico, with Oklahoma alone accounting for 1,380 violations across 81 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?
High turbidity can interfere with disinfection effectiveness and may indicate the presence of disease-causing microorganisms like Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
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 Turbidity.
| # | State | Violations | Systems Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 1,380 | 81 |
| 2 | Texas | 1,031 | 87 |
| 3 | Puerto Rico | 516 | 35 |
| 4 | Alaska | 510 | 37 |
| 5 | Louisiana | 340 | 18 |
| 6 | Colorado | 302 | 56 |
| 7 | Oregon | 243 | 22 |
| 8 | West Virginia | 231 | 37 |
| 9 | Arizona | 166 | 15 |
| 10 | Missouri | 154 | 11 |
| 11 | New Mexico | 149 | 9 |
| 12 | California | 124 | 29 |
| 13 | Illinois | 120 | 30 |
| 14 | Kansas | 105 | 15 |
| 15 | Idaho | 90 | 9 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 85 | 23 |
| 17 | New York | 83 | 27 |
| 18 | Minnesota | 80 | 4 |
| 19 | Tennessee | 78 | 15 |
| 20 | Kentucky | 76 | 18 |
| 21 | Arkansas | 75 | 17 |
| 22 | North Carolina | 53 | 15 |
| 23 | Ohio | 50 | 18 |
| 24 | Indiana | 28 | 6 |
| 25 | Iowa | 22 | 3 |
| 26 | Mississippi | 22 | 1 |
| 27 | South Dakota | 22 | 3 |
| 28 | Wyoming | 22 | 7 |
| 29 | Washington | 21 | 5 |
| 30 | Florida | 19 | 3 |
| 31 | Montana | 19 | 4 |
| 32 | New Jersey | 19 | 7 |
| 33 | Maine | 11 | 3 |
| 34 | South Carolina | 11 | 6 |
| 35 | Michigan | 10 | 5 |
| 36 | Massachusetts | 9 | 4 |
| 37 | Maryland | 8 | 4 |
| 38 | Nebraska | 7 | 2 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | 5 | 2 |
| 40 | Utah | 5 | 1 |
| 41 | Vermont | 4 | 1 |
| 42 | Alabama | 3 | 1 |
| 43 | Connecticut | 3 | 2 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | 3 | 1 |
| 45 | Georgia | 2 | 1 |
| 46 | Delaware | 1 | 1 |
| 47 | Nevada | 1 | 1 |
| 48 | Virginia | 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 947 water systems across 48 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 947 community water systems with health-based Turbidity violations, totaling 8,487 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 (1,380 violations), Texas (1,031 violations), Puerto Rico (516 violations), Alaska (510 violations), Louisiana (340 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SDWIS Federal Reporting Services
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.