Inorganic chemicals
Sulfate in U.S. tap water
153 public water systems across 31 U.S. states report Sulfate in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. 3 sit at or above the federal limit.
What it is
A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil.
Why it's regulated
No health-based federal limit; high levels can have a laxative effect and a bitter taste.
At or above the federal limit (3)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, CO 2024 annual report | 49200 ug/L | 196.8× the limit |
| Santa Rosa, CA 2024 annual report | 13–15 mg/L | 30.0× the limit |
| Ventura, CA 2023 annual report | 631 mg/L | 1.3× the limit |
Approaching the limit (2)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX 2024 annual report | 284 | 0.9× the limit |
| St George, UT 2024 annual report | 1.38–451 mg/L | 0.9× the limit |
Within the federal limit (117)
| Water system | Measured |
|---|---|
| Lees Summit, MO 2025 annual report | 178 mg/L |
| Overland Park, KS 2023 annual report | 177 |
| Torrance, CA 2024 annual report | 140–340 mg/L |
| Oxnard, CA 2024 annual report | 318.62 mg/L |
| Independence, MO 2024 annual report | 144 mg/L |
| Columbus, OH 2025 annual report | 130.5 |
| Costa Mesa, CA 2024 annual report | 225 mg/L |
| Fullerton, CA 2024 annual report | 225 mg/L |
| Glendale, CA 2024 annual report | 225 mg/L |
| Pomona, CA 2024 annual report | 200–225 mg/L |
| Santa Ana, CA 2024 annual report | 224 mg/L |
| Tracy, CA 2024 annual report | 221 mg/L |
| Irvine, CA 2023 annual report | 217 mg/L |
| Lubbock, TX 2024 annual report | 129 mg/L |
| City of Hemet, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| City of Menifee, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| City of Murrieta, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| City of Perris, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| City of San Jacinto, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| City of Temecula, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| East Valley Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| Mills Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| Moreno Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| Skinner Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 199 mg/L |
| Columbia, MO 2024 annual report | 96.5 mg/L |
| Fishers, IN 2024 annual report | 94 mg/L |
| Indianapolis, IN 2024 annual report | 94 mg/L |
| Morgan County, IN 2024 annual report | 94 mg/L |
| Westfield, IN 2024 annual report | 94 mg/L |
| Huntington Beach, CA 2025 annual report | 182 mg/L |
| Inglewood, CA 2023 annual report | 180 mg/L |
| San Diego, CA 2023 annual report | 174 mg/L |
| Salt Lake City, UT 2024 annual report | 30.5–291 |
| Billings, MT 2024 annual report | 19.2–71.5 mg/L |
| El Cajon, CA 2024 annual report | 140 mg/L |
| Escondido, CA 2024 annual report | 138 mg/L |
| Simi Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 125 mg/L |
| Philadelphia, PA 2023 annual report | 18.2–62 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA 2024 annual report | 102–103 mg/L |
| Pasadena, CA 2023 annual report | 102 mg/L |
| Burbank, CA 2024 annual report | 77–92 mg/L |
| Salinas, CA 2024 annual report | 87 mg/L |
| Nashville, TN 2023 annual report | 29.2–42.8 |
| Manchester, NH 2024 annual report | 20–41 mg/L |
| Stamford, CT 2024 annual report | 35 mg/L |
| El Monte, CA 2024 annual report | 21–66 mg/L |
| Sunnyvale, CA 2024 annual report | 66 mg/L |
| Arvada, CO 2024 annual report | 32 mg/L |
| Lakewood, NJ 2025 annual report | 29.6 mg/L |
| Mobile, AL 2024 annual report | 20.3–29.5 |
Showing 50 of 117. The full list is in the JSON API.
Frequently asked
+What is Sulfate?
A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. No health-based federal limit; high levels can have a laxative effect and a bitter taste.
+What is the federal limit for Sulfate in drinking water?
The federal MCL for Sulfate is 250 mg/L. The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (typically a running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.
+How many U.S. water systems have Sulfate over the federal limit?
3 of the 153 public water systems on The Water Map report Sulfate at or above its federal limit, spanning 31 U.S. states. The full list is on this page.
+How can I check if Sulfate is in my city's tap water?
Search your city on The Water Map (https://www.thewatermap.com/) or browse the list on this page. Every U.S. public water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report that lists every contaminant it measured, including Sulfate.