Drinking Water

“Our mission is to protect public health and the environment by providing oversight, guidance, and support, while fostering collaboration with safe drinking water partners.”

Safe drinking water is vital to the public health, welfare, and economy of Nevada. The moment a person opens a drinking water tap, it represents perhaps the most intimate connection between public trust and the government's duty to protect public health. Unlike many other day-to-day government activities, drinking water regulation has a direct and immediate effect on the well-being of every citizen.

The Federal Safe Drinking Water Act provides broad and consistent public health protection throughout the nation. It is the responsibility of owners, managers and operators of public water systems to meet the requirements of the Act. Our Bureau implements the requirements of this Act. For more info please see NRS 445A.235

News and Program Updates

Interest in drinking water system compliance is high. The Bureau of Safe Drinking Water reviews compliance data from about 600 public water systems based on State and Federal regulations. If a water system’s data exceeds a maximum contaminant or action level, that system is non-compliant. Nevada currently has 22 systems that are non-compliant with health-based primary drinking water standards and 12 systems that are non-compliant with secondary drinking water standards. This report, Nevada Public Water Systems in Non-Compliance with Drinking Water Standards - PDF , is updated quarterly.

May 2025 – To ensure NDEP adopts the most up-to-date regulations, we are temporarily postponing the adoption of the April 10, 2024, federal PFAS Rule, ensuring that Nevada’s regulations align with any revisions to the federal regulations. On May 14, 2025, EPA announced their plan to revise the current National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS. The intent is to keep the current standards for PFOS and PFOA but extend the deadline for PWS to be in compliance by two years (Apil 2029), establish a federal exemption framework and initiate enhanced outreach to water systems, especially in rural communities. Through this outreach effort, called PFAS OUT, EPA will connect with every public utility known to need capital improvements to address PFAS, and will share resources, tools, funding, and technical assistance to help these utilities meet federal drinking water standards. EPA also announced its intent to rescind the regulations and reconsider the regulatory determinations for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (GenX), and the Hazard Index mixture of these three compounds plus PFBS.

January 2025 - The fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), which began in 2023, continues through 2026, is looking at 29 PFAS compounds and lithium in drinking water. Sampling is being conducted at all large (serving > 10,000 people), medium (serving between 10,000 and 3,300 people) and, small (serving less than 3,300 people) public water systems (PWS) across the United States. The 7th set of analytical results, representing 66% of all data that will be collected, was released January 5th, 2025. There will be subsequent data releases every quarter through 2026. Staff will continue to communicate public notices and Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) requirements as results are released.For information on PFAS, including health effects, Nevada occurrence information, treatment, and funding opportunities visit the NDEP PFAS in Nevada webpage. For information on lithium, visit EPA’s UCMR 5 page.

April 2024 - EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS on April 10, 2024. The EPA established legally enforceable levels, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for several contaminants with individual mixtures containing at least two or more contanminats. They used a Hazard Index to account for the combined and co-occurring levels of PFAS in drinking water. EPA finalized health-based, non-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for PFAS. More information on the final rule, along with associated timelines, can be found on the EPA PFAS web page

Information for Consumers

Information for Public Water Systems and Chemical Monitoring

Regulatory oversight for the Public Water System Supervision Program (PWSSP) is provided by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water, Southern Nevada Health District and Washoe County Health District. Staff monitor water sample analysis reports, performs sanitary surveys of public water systems, reviews and approves plans for water system projects, provides public water system training, maintains essential records, revises, adopts and enforces all regulations. For more info please see NRS 445A.843

New Water Systems - Forms and Documents

Definitions and Regulations

Forms needed for Engineering Review Depending On Project:

Compliance Documentation:

Engineering Reviews

Engineering Reviews
Water Project Submittal Requirments and Water Project Waiver Requests
Water System Facilities and Components
Engineering Plan Review Fees
- Water Project Review Fees — Submitted water projects must be submitted with a fee before the review process can begin. See fees below:
  - Engineering Plan Review Fees 2025 - Starting January 1, 2025 (PDF)
Engineering Guidance

MISC Forms and Fees

Public Water System Contact Forms

Vulnerablility Asset Program Renewal Forms

Sanitary Survey Response Forms

Water Operator Applications, Approval Course of Training

Fees

Operating Plan Templates

Instructions for Submitting Manuals Electronically to NDEP BSDW for review.

For each Manual, there is a GUIDANCE document to provide examples and expectations. A TEMPLATE in Microsoft Word can be customized for the water system.

Manual of Operations and Maintenance

Emergency Response Plan

Cross Connection Plan

Additonal Programs

Operator Certification

Lab Certification

Please contact us at (775) 687-9521, if you have any questions.