For Journalists & Researchers
WaterViolations.org makes EPA drinking water violation data accessible and searchable. Below are resources for journalists, researchers, and advocates working on water quality stories.
Key National Statistics
- 142,589 active public water systems in the United States
- 3,228,383 total violations on record
- 314,259 health-based violations (contaminant levels exceeding EPA limits)
- 5,922 water systems with currently unresolved health-based violations
- Systems serve an estimated 346,425,808 people
Most Cited Health-Based Contaminants
| Contaminant | Health-Based Violations |
|---|---|
| Unknown | 314,259 |
Story Angles
- Your state's grade: State Report Cards grade every state A-F on water safety
- Worst offenders: Water systems with the most violations nationally and systems with active health violations
- Local angle: Search any address or ZIP code on the homepage to find your community's water system
- Contaminant deep-dives: Contaminant guides explain health risks and EPA limits for lead, arsenic, nitrate, and more
Resources for Your Coverage
Embeddable Widget — Add a live water quality status card to your article. Free, no API key needed.
JSON API — Programmatic access to violation data. No API key required.
CSV Downloads — Bulk data exports by state for analysis.
Cite This Data
WaterViolations.org. Data from U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). https://waterviolations.org
Data is updated quarterly from the EPA. All data is in the public domain.