Water Quality: Altus, OK
4 water systems • 23,699 people served
Multiple Health ViolationsWater Quality Summary
Altus is served by 4 public water systems with a combined service population of 23,699 people, and has 372 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 179 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Altus's violation count is 41% above the national average for Oklahoma. Contaminants associated with violations include Contaminant 1009, Contaminant 2920, E. coli, Fecal Coliform, Gross Alpha.
Contaminants Found
Causes gastrointestinal illness; certain strains (e.g., O157:H7) can cause severe kidney failure and death.
Common source: Fecal contamination from humans or animals entering the water supply
EPA limit: Zero (no E. coli permitted in drinking water)
Indicates direct fecal contamination; associated with diarrhea, cramps, nausea, and potential severe illness.
Common source: Human and animal fecal waste
EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive triggers violations)
Alpha-emitting radioactive particles increase cancer risk, particularly from bone and other internal cancers.
Common source: Natural uranium and radium in geological formations
EPA limit: 15 pCi/L (excluding radon and uranium)
Causes methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) in infants, reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen.
Common source: Fertilizer runoff, septic systems, animal feedlots, natural deposits
EPA limit: 10 mg/L (as nitrogen)
Trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids that increase cancer risk and may cause adverse reproductive outcomes.
Common source: Chlorine disinfection reacting with natural organic matter in source water
EPA limit: TTHM: 0.080 mg/L; HAA5: 0.060 mg/L
Total trihalomethanes are linked to increased risk of bladder cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes.
Common source: Reaction of chlorine disinfectants with naturally occurring organic matter in water
EPA limit: 0.080 mg/L (80 ppb)
Water Systems Serving Altus
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALTUS | OK1011501 | Surface Water | 18,717 | 131 |
| ALTUS AFB | OK3003303 | Surface Water | 4,617 | 70 |
| CRETA WATER CORPORATION | OK3003310 | Surface Water | 230 | 130 |
| KIOWA RURAL WATER DISTRICT #1 | OK3003804 | Groundwater | 135 | 41 |
Concerned About Your Water?
A home water filter can remove common contaminants. NSF-certified filters are tested against EPA standards.
Consider a reverse osmosis system for comprehensive filtration or a carbon filter for basic improvement.
Other Cities in Oklahoma
Data Sources
Drinking water violation data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Data includes all recorded violations for active community water systems.