We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities across the United States to identify those with the highest levels of uranium. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
Uranium is a contaminant of growing concern in drinking water. The cities below have the highest detected levels based on the most recent testing data available.
Rankings at a Glance
Guatay, California
Guatay has uranium detected at 58.40 pCi/L. 6 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Shaver Lake, California
Shaver Lake has uranium detected at 50.55 pCi/L. 6 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Placerville, New Mexico
Placerville has uranium detected at 47.57 pCi/L. 3 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
North Fork, California
North Fork has uranium detected at 44.98 pCi/L. 9 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Glen Allen, North Carolina
Glen Allen has uranium detected at 43.52 pCi/L. 11 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Daggett, California
Daggett has uranium detected at 36.82 pCi/L. 7 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Riviera, Texas
Riviera has uranium detected at 31.26 pCi/L. 10 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Kerman, California
Kerman has uranium detected at 29.70 pCi/L. 15 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Dewitt, Virginia
Dewitt has uranium detected at 29.56 pCi/L. 4 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Sheridan Lake, Colorado
Sheridan Lake has uranium detected at 27.72 pCi/L. 13 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Newcastle, Nebraska
Newcastle has uranium detected at 26.65 pCi/L. 4 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Ludlow, California
Ludlow has uranium detected at 26.12 pCi/L. 8 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
St. Louis, Arizona
St. Louis has uranium detected at 26.06 pCi/L. 7 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Whitehall, Montana
Whitehall has uranium detected at 24.29 pCi/L. 7 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Phillips, Nebraska
Phillips has uranium detected at 23.76 pCi/L. 6 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Wishon, California
Wishon has uranium detected at 22.62 pCi/L. 4 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Paxton, Nebraska
Paxton has uranium detected at 22.51 pCi/L. 9 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Encino, California
Encino has uranium detected at 22.45 pCi/L. 11 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Ft Morgan, Colorado
Ft Morgan has uranium detected at 22.42 pCi/L. 17 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Lexington, Georgia
Lexington has uranium detected at 22.20 pCi/L. 20 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Overton, Nebraska
Overton has uranium detected at 21.85 pCi/L. 7 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Wales, Alaska
Wales has uranium detected at 21.85 pCi/L. 3 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Oakhurst, California
Oakhurst has uranium detected at 21.74 pCi/L. 29 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Broadwater, Nebraska
Broadwater has uranium detected at 21.65 pCi/L. 4 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
Great Neck, New Hampshire
Great Neck has uranium detected at 21.20 pCi/L. 5 total contaminants were found in the water supply.
What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Uranium, Nitrate and nitrite, Arsenic. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Geographically, the states most represented in this ranking are California (9), Nebraska (5), Colorado (2). Regional water sources, industrial activity, and agricultural runoff all contribute to local water quality variation.
Across all ranked cities, 137 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 27 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 110 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guatay | CA | 6 | 3 | 1 | 100 |
| 2 | Shaver Lake | CA | 6 | 1 | 1 | 250 |
| 3 | Placerville | NM | 3 | 2 | 1 | 160 |
| 4 | North Fork | CA | 9 | 4 | 2 | 200 |
| 5 | Glen Allen | NC | 11 | 10 | 1 | 178 |
| 6 | Daggett | CA | 7 | 5 | 1 | 795 |
| 7 | Riviera | TX | 10 | 6 | 1 | 729 |
| 8 | Kerman | CA | 15 | 7 | 1 | 16,995 |
| 9 | Dewitt | VA | 4 | 3 | 1 | 39 |
| 10 | Sheridan Lake | CO | 13 | 7 | 1 | 148 |
| 11 | Newcastle | NE | 4 | 4 | 1 | 78 |
| 12 | Ludlow | CA | 8 | 5 | 2 | 500 |
| 13 | St. Louis | AZ | 7 | 4 | 1 | 680 |
| 14 | Whitehall | MT | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1,500 |
| 15 | Phillips | NE | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | Wishon | CA | 4 | 3 | 1 | 42 |
| 17 | Paxton | NE | 9 | 6 | 1 | 484 |
| 18 | Encino | CA | 11 | 8 | 1 | 82 |
| 19 | Ft Morgan | CO | 17 | 12 | 1 | 300 |
| 20 | Lexington | GA | 20 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | Overton | NE | 7 | 3 | 1 | 600 |
| 22 | Wales | AK | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Oakhurst | CA | 29 | 14 | 1 | 498 |
| 24 | Broadwater | NE | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | Great Neck | NH | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What cities have the highest levels of uranium?
Our analysis of 2026 data identified the cities with the highest detected levels of uranium. See the full ranking above.
Is uranium dangerous in drinking water?
Uranium has known health risks at elevated levels. The EWG sets health guidelines that are often stricter than EPA legal limits to account for the latest research on long-term exposure.
How do I remove uranium from my water?
Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing a wide range of contaminants. Check the specific contaminant details for recommended filtration technology.
What is the EPA legal limit for uranium?
EPA legal limits vary by contaminant and may differ from EWG health guidelines. See individual city reports for specific legal limit comparisons.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: September 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
