Metals
Zinc in U.S. tap water
51 public water systems across 21 U.S. states report Zinc in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. None currently sit at or above the federal limit.
What it is
A naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes.
Why it's regulated
Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a metallic taste.
Within the federal limit (42)
| Water system | Measured |
|---|---|
| Madison, WI 2024 annual report | 3.8 ug/L |
| Charleston, SC 2024 annual report | 6.3 ug/L |
| North Charleston, SC 2024 annual report | 6.3 ug/L |
| Lakewood, CO 2024 annual report | 2.5 ug/L |
| Suffolk, VA 2024 annual report | 0.37 mg/L |
| Columbus, OH 2025 annual report | 0.256 |
| Catoosa Utility District Authority, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Chattanooga, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| East Ridge, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Elder Mountain, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Fort Oglethorpe, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Lookout Mountain, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Lookout Mountain, Ga, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Red Bank, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Rossville, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Signal Mountain, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Walker County, TN 2025 annual report | 0.2 mg/L |
| Salt Lake City, UT 2024 annual report | 0.08 |
| Simi Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 0.06 mg/L |
| Thousand Oaks, CA 2024 annual report | 0.06 mg/L |
| Ventura, CA 2023 annual report | 0.023 mg/L |
| Fishers, IN 2024 annual report | 12 ug/L |
| Indianapolis, IN 2024 annual report | 12 ug/L |
| Morgan County, IN 2024 annual report | 12 ug/L |
| Westfield, IN 2024 annual report | 12 ug/L |
| Huntsville, AL 2024 annual report | 0.01 mg/L |
| Clarksville, TN 2024 annual report | 0–0.00934 mg/L |
| Joliet, IL 2024 annual report | 0.00934 mg/L |
| Brownsville, TX 2024 annual report | 0.0073 mg/L |
| Overland Park, KS 2023 annual report | 6.6 |
| Columbia, MO 2024 annual report | 0.00181 mg/L |
| Green Bay, WI 2024 annual report | 0–0.0018 mg/L |
| Kent, WA 2024 annual report | 0.0018 |
| Manchester, NH 2024 annual report | 0.001–0.0017 mg/L |
| Yonkers, NY 2024 annual report | 1–1.15 ug/L |
| Ann Arbor, MI 2024 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
| Cleveland, OH 2024 annual report | Not detected |
| Nashville, TN 2023 annual report | Not detected |
| Pomona, CA 2024 annual report | Not detected mg/L |
| Richardson, TX 2024 annual report | 0–0 mg/L |
| Salinas, CA 2024 annual report | Not detected mg/L |
| West Jordan, UT 2024 annual report | Not detected ug/L |
Frequently asked
+What is Zinc?
A naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a metallic taste.
+What is the federal limit for Zinc in drinking water?
The federal MCL for Zinc is 5 . 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 Zinc over the federal limit?
Zero of the 51 public water systems in The Water Map dataset currently report Zinc at or above its federal limit.
+How can I check if Zinc 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 Zinc.