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23 Nevada Public Water Systems Don't Meet Safety Standards

Eric Norris
/
CC BY-SA 2.0

A recent Reno Gazette-Journalinvestigation revealed that 23 of Nevada’s public water systems are non-compliant for safety standards, including three in Washoe County.

Jennifer Carr is the deputy administrator of the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, which monitors close to 600 water systems in Nevada. She recently spoke with our media partner, KNPR in Las Vegas, and says most of the contaminants are naturally occurring.

"Minerals like arsenic and uranium are from soils surrounding the wells, and leadand copper issues are related to the natural pH of the water," Carr explains.

About half of the non-compliant systems are currently finishing clean-up activities. Three systems that tested positive for lead are being fixed and bottled water is being handed out in the meantime. 

Find more information here.

Noah Glick is a former content director and host at KUNR Public Radio.
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