Drinking Water Data & Databases

EPA maintains drinking water data in several databases, including the Safe Drinking Water Information System - Federal Version (SDWIS/FED) and the National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD).

The agency utilizes this information to help manage environmental programs, and provides public access to the data through the Internet. For other water-related databases maintained by EPA see the Office of Water's databases and software page.

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List of Drinking Water Databases

Safe Drinking Water Information System - Federal version (SDWIS/FED)
SDWIS/FED is EPA's national regulatory compliance database for the drinking water program. It includes information on the nation's 160,000 public water systems and violations of drinking water regulations.

• Access Drinking Water Information Online (through summary pivot tables, Envirofacts, or direct connection to the mainframe)
• SDWIS/FED Website (information for users who work with the database)
• Database Reports

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR)
EPA uses data generated by the UCMR to evaluate and prioritize contaminants on the Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List, a list of contaminants EPA is considering for possible new drinking water standards.

• Access UCMR data (by downloading MS Excel PivotTables®)
• About UCMR

National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD)
NCOD was developed to satisfy the statutory requirements set by Congress in the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments. The purpose of the database is to support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decisions related to identifying contaminants for regulation and subsequent regulation development. The NCOD contains occurrence data from both Public Water Systems (PWSs) and other sources (like the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System) on physical, chemical, microbial and radiological contaminants for both detections and non-detects.

• More about NCOD

Information Collection Rule (ICR)
Federal DatabaseThe ICR database includes research data from an 18-month study of disinfection byproducts and microbial contaminants.

• Access ICR Drinking Water Microbial And Disinfection Byproduct Information
• About ICR Data And Development

Safe Drinking Water Information System - State Version(SDWIS/State)
SDWIS/State is a data system that EPA is developing for states that will improve the quality of drinking water information.

• SDWIS/STATE Website

Drinking Water Research Information Network (DRINK)
DRINK is a portal to information on projects funded or performed by water research organizations, government agencies in the U.S., international research organizations and academic institutions focused on drinking water issues. It is a compilation of drinking water project information from partner organizations that creates a single source of ongoing research.

• DRINK web site

Watershed Information Network (WIN)
WIN helps people learn about the watershed in which they live.

• Access Watershed Information Network

Index of Watershed Indicators (IWI)
IWI is a compilation of information on the "health" of aquatic resources including all watersheds in the lower 48 states.

• Access IWI

ReportsPeriodically, EPA analyzes and reports on occurrence of certain contaminants in sources of drinking water

• A Review of Contaminant Occurrence in Public Water Systems,
  EPA 816-R-99-006, November 1999

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If you can't find the information you need through the sources above, you may also consider filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for drinking water data.