Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Reno, Nevada
Tap water in Reno, Nevada receives a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Reno's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Reno.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.701 ppt, 701x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.16 ppb, 540x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 21.0 ppb, 349x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY (system ID NV0000190) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for Reno
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Reno's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Reno's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.701 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 701× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.16 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 540× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
21.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 349× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
19.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 197× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
26.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 178× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 122× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.32 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
22.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.5 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 37× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.584 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.45 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 10× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.88 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.8× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.17 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.4× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.63 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 3.8× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.191 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 3.2× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.08 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.135 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1.5× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0294 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.232 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.342 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.399 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
58.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0935 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.19 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
49.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.014 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.27 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.57 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.22 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0326 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.379 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.334 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.206 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.186 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.061 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.035 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0168 ppb | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
1.63 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.00586 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0437 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
1.44 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine Other |
0.00357 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY.