Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY
TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 442,000 residents in RENO, Nevada using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 775-834-8117.
Is RENO tap water safe to drink?
TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 442,000 residents in RENO and 1 other community, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate and nitrite, Uranium, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
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.
Quick actions for RENO residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY.
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.
Contact TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for RENO
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 48/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
TRUCKEE MEADOWS WATER AUTHORITY service area
This water system serves 2 communities in Washoe County, Nevada. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for RENO water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.