Uranium in Drinking Water
EPA limits, health effects, and what to do if your water is affected.
🩨 Health Effects
Uranium causes kidney toxicity and increases cancer risk with long-term exposure. It is both a chemical toxin (damaging kidneys) and a source of radiation (alpha particle emission). The MCL was set primarily based on kidney toxicity.
📍 Sources in Water
Uranium occurs naturally in certain rock and soil formations and dissolves into groundwater. Most common in the West (Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota), New England, and parts of the Midwest.
✅ What To Do
Reverse osmosis and ion exchange are effective at reducing uranium. If your community system has violations, contact your utility. Private well users in uranium-prone areas should test their water.
Check your tap water for Uranium
Search your ZIP code to see if your water system has had Uranium violations, plus lead testing results and an overall safety grade.
Search your ZIP code →Data from the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). MCLs reflect minimum federal standards; some contaminants may pose health risks below these thresholds.