Water Quality: Ames, OK
1 water system • 199 people served
Multiple Health ViolationsWater Quality Summary
Ames is served by 1 public water system with a combined service population of 199 people, and has 56 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 27 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Ames's violation count is 79% below the national average for Oklahoma. Contaminants associated with violations include Barium, Gross Alpha, Nitrate, Selenium.
Contaminants Found
Increases blood pressure and causes cardiovascular effects with long-term exposure.
Common source: Natural rock deposits, oil drilling operations, coal power plant waste
EPA limit: 2 mg/L
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)
Hair loss, nail brittleness, and nervous system damage at elevated concentrations.
Common source: Natural geological deposits, mining discharges, oil refinery waste
EPA limit: 0.05 mg/L (50 ppb)
Water Systems Serving Ames
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMES | OK2004403 | Groundwater | 199 | 56 |
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.