Is there PFAS in City of Elko water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show City of Elko averaged 29.0 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 7.3 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
City of Elko
Serves 23,000 people · 38 PFOA samples from 19 sampling points · Jul 2024 to Jan 2025
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
5.8 ppt avg · max 5.9
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
29.0 ppt avg · max 46.0
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
19.5 ppt avg · max 29.0
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
1.9 avg · max 2.9
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFPeS.
City of Elko is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Elko, Nevada, serving about 23,000 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 38 times across 19 sampling points between Jul 2024 and Jan 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFBA, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFTA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, PFHpS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFMBA, PFHpA, 4:2 FTS, HFPO-DA, PFNA, PFDA, PFDoA, PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 59 ppb, detected in 38 of 38 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Nevada
All 59 tested systems in Nevada
ZIP codes served
89801
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in City of Elko water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID NV0000272. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/nevada/city-of-elko/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID NV0000272). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
