Is Bartlesville, OK tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Bartlesville Water System. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Bartlesville Water System supplies Bartlesville (34,748 people).
Water system
Bartlesville Water System
34,748 people · Surface water · EPA ID OK1021401
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 3.6 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1
Across Oklahoma, 8 of 167 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 5 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Oklahoma results.
Bartlesville homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Bartlesville city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Owasso 32 mi Washington County Rural Water District #3 (New,#1) | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Tulsa 42 mi Tulsa Water System | None above limits | 1.53 ppb |
| Broken Arrow 49 mi Broken Arrow Municipal Authority | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Jenks 51 mi Jenks Public Works Authority | None above limits | 1.1 ppb |
| Bixby 55 mi Bixby Public Works Authority | None above limits | 1.4 ppb |
| Stillwater 75 mi Stillwater Utilities Authority | Above limit | 2.6 ppb |
Bartlesville ZIP codes (1)
- 74006
Questions
Is Bartlesville tap water safe to drink?
Bartlesville Water System had 1 health-based violation since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Bartlesville, OK?
Bartlesville Water System, which serves 34,748 people.
Does Bartlesville tap water have PFAS?
Bartlesville Water System had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Bartlesville homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 69% of Bartlesville homes as built before 1980 (Oklahoma: 49%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Bartlesville Water System's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.