WaterVerge

Is Afton, WY Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded D+, with 52 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

3K residents served 7 water systems PWSID: WY5600002
Overall Score
50 / 100
Violations
52 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#51 of 65 in Wyoming Top 83% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
D+GRADE
Water Quality Grade
50/100
waterverge.com
D+ 50/100

Afton, WY — Water Quality Report

Afton's drinking water received a grade of D+ (50 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 7 water systems serve approximately 2,750 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 1.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 391 violations on record, including 34 health-based violations. 52 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Afton's water

Afton ranks #51 out of 65 cities in Wyoming for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state.

Afton relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Afton may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

The system has seen 45 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
50 out of 100 Grade D+
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
0/45
F
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 1.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Afton, WY water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Afton's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D+ (50/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 7 water systems serve approximately 2,750 residents using groundwater (wells).

52
Active Violations
1.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Afton

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Afton's water quality assessment. Grade: D+ (50/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Groundwater Rule.

Violation
3 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: Lead and Copper Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Afton's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 1.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Afton's water system has 391 total violations on record, including 34 health-based violations. 52 remain unresolved. 45 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

TTMROtherMONMCL
Most recent violations:
Mar 2025 Groundwater Rule Open
Dec 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Open
Dec 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Open
Dec 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Open
Oct 2023 Consumer Confidence Rule Open

Where does Afton's water come from?

Afton's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 7 water systems serving approximately 2,750 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate. Nearby water bodies include Crow Creek (river).

What Afton residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Afton's water.

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
1.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 7% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

391
Total violations
34
Health-based
52
Active / unresolved
Mar 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

391 Total
52 Active
34 Health-based
339 Resolved
Violations by category
Volatile Organic Chemicals
85
Total Coliform Rule
85
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
56
Inorganic Chemicals
52
Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule
34
Mar 2025 Active
Groundwater Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Dec 2024 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Dec 2024 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Dec 2024 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Oct 2023 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
May 2023 Active
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Jan 2023 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Sep 2022 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2022 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Apr 2022 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jan 2022 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Dec 2021 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Sep 2021 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2021 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jun 2021 Active
Groundwater Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Apr 2021 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2020 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2020 Active
Groundwater Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Jul 2020 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Apr 2020 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Showing 20 of 391 violations
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D2 — severe drought

Lincoln County is currently in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of May 5, 2026). Drought can elevate disinfection-byproduct (TTHM/HAA5) levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.

14
Weeks at D2+ (current streak)
28.2%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
14
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, updated weekly by NDMC, USDA, and NOAA.

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 1.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has increased by 2.0 ppb from 2000 (1.0 ppb) to 2025 (3.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
2,750
Water Systems
7
Source breakdown
Groundwater
6
Ground Water Under Influence
1
Water Source

Where Afton's water comes from

Groundwater

Afton's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,750 people through 7 water systems.

Local Hydrology

Water bodies near Afton

Afton is located near 1 notable water body. These water bodies contribute to the regional watershed and may indirectly affect groundwater quality.

Crow Creek
river
Infrastructure

Water systems serving Afton

System Name PWSID Population Source
AFTON, BOARD OF PUB UTILITIES WY5600002 2,000 GW
OSMOND PIPELINE CO WY5600154 250 GW
FAIRVIEW WATER & SEWER DISTRICT WY5600166 230 GW
STAR VIEW ESTATES WY5600893 84 GW
WESTVIEW VILLAGE WY5600864 83 GW
STAR VALLEY TRAILER COURT WY5601017 72 GW
OSMOND I&S DISTRICT WY5600153 31 GU
Regional Comparison

How Afton compares

Full Wyoming rankings →

Afton's score of 50/100 is on par with the average of 55/100 among major Wyoming cities. It outscores 5 of 10 nearby cities.

Afton (this city)
50
Cheyenne
30.8
Casper
41.8
Gillette
44.5
Laramie
55.2
Jackson
43.2
Wyoming avg
55
City Profile

About Afton, WY

Wikipedia →

Afton is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 2,172 at the 2020 census. Afton is home to the world's largest arch made of elk antlers. Spanning 75 feet (23 m) across the four lanes of U.S. Highway 89, the arch, completed in 1958, consists of 3,011 naturally shed elk antlers and weighs 15 tons.

Economic Profile
$52,273
Median Income
$301,940
Median Home Value
$724/mo
Median Rent
6.3%
Unemployment
Community
35.3
Median Age
200
People / sq mi
22.4%
College Educated
57.7%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Afton, WY tap water safe to drink?

Afton's water quality earned a grade of D+ (50/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #51 out of 65 cities tested in Wyoming.

What contaminants are in Afton's water?

Lead was measured at 1.0 ppb (90th percentile). 391 violations are on record.

How is Afton's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Afton?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Afton's water come from?

Afton's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 7 water systems serving approximately 2,750 residents.

What health violations has Afton's water system had?

Afton has 34 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in March 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 52 violations remain unresolved.

Is Afton's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Afton uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 391 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Afton's water compare to other cities?

Afton ranks #51 out of 65 cities in Wyoming (better than 22% of state cities) and #13096 out of 15744 cities nationally (17th percentile). The grade of D+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.