States › Nevada › Elko County

Elko County, NV Water Quality

Water quality data for 10 public water systems serving Elko County, Nevada — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 10 water systems · 10 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Elko County Earns a B

Elko County: 10 communities across 10 water systems. 80.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 3.00 ppb
  • 7 communities with a lead detection, 3 reporting none detected
  • 1 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 8 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 80.0% of communities have no open violations
3 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
10
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
80%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Spring Creek
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Montello
    1.20 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • West Wendover
    Not detected
    2 significant inspection deficiencies
    A
  • Carlin
    4.00 ppb
    2 significant inspection deficiencies
    B
  • Wells
    3.60 ppb
    2 significant inspection deficiencies
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Elko
    3.00 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 3 of 19 sampling points
    D
  • Jackpot
    2.00 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Mountain City
    1.90 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Owyhee
    13.50 ppb
    2 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
  • Lamoille
    Not detected
    5 significant inspection deficiencies
    C
County Lead Level — Median 3 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 3 ppb — 20% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
6
10 – 15 ppb
1
No Data
3

All Cities in Elko County

Elko 3.00 ppb D
Spring Creek Not detected A
West Wendover Not detected A
Carlin 4.00 ppb B
Wells 3.60 ppb B
Jackpot 2.00 ppb D
Owyhee 13.50 ppb C
Lamoille Not detected C
Montello 1.20 ppb B
Mountain City 1.90 ppb D
Showing 10 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Elko County Drinking Water

Elko County is served by 10 water systems covering 10 communities. 80% have no open violations.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 7 recorded a detection, with a median of 3.00 ppb — 20% of the federal action level. 3 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

1 of 10 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 8 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elko County tap water safe to drink?▼
80% of communities have no open violation. 1 of 10 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Elko County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 3.00 ppb, 20% of the 15 ppb action level. 3 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Elko County?▼
10 community water systems serve 10 communities here.
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