WaterVerge

Is Cokeville, WY Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded D+, with 17 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

535 residents served 1 water system PWSID: WY5600015
Overall Score
50 / 100
Violations
17 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#52 of 65 in Wyoming Top 84% 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

Cokeville, WY — Water Quality Report

Cokeville's drinking water received a grade of D+ (50 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 535 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 1.1 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 135 violations on record, including 8 health-based violations. 17 remain unresolved.

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

What to know about Cokeville's water

Cokeville ranks #52 out of 65 cities in Wyoming for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state.

Cokeville 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, Cokeville may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

The system has seen 25 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 1.1 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 Cokeville, WY water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Cokeville'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 1 water system serves approximately 535 residents using groundwater (wells).

17
Active Violations
1.1 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Cokeville

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

Update
Water quality data updated

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

Violation
4 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrite.

Violation
14 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: Combined Uranium, Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, Combined Radium (-226 and -228).

Violation
2 drinking water violations recorded

Contaminants: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).

Key contaminant findings

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

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 1.1 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Cokeville's water system has 135 total violations on record, including 8 health-based violations. 17 remain unresolved. 25 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MRTTOtherMCL
Most recent violations:
Oct 2025 Nitrate-Nitrite Resolved
Oct 2025 Nitrite Resolved
Oct 2025 Nitrate-Nitrite Resolved
Oct 2025 Nitrite Resolved
Jul 2025 Combined Uranium Resolved

Where does Cokeville's water come from?

Cokeville's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 535 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate. Nearby water bodies include Bear River Below Pixley Dam, (river), Bear River Below Smiths Fork, Nr Cokeville (river), Bear River (river).

What Cokeville residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Cokeville'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
1.1 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 7% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

135
Total violations
8
Health-based
17
Active / unresolved
Oct 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

135 Total
17 Active
8 Health-based
118 Resolved
2 SNC
Violations by category
Volatile Organic Chemicals
42
Synthetic Organic Chemicals
29
Inorganic Chemicals
17
Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule
12
Nitrate Rule
9
Sep 2024 Active
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Apr 2022 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Feb 2022 Active
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Jan 2021 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Oct 2020 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Oct 2020 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Aug 2020 Active
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Jul 2020 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Oct 2019 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Sep 2019 Active
Groundwater Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Jul 2019 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Oct 2018 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2018 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Mar 2016 Active
Groundwater Rule
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Oct 2015 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2015 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Oct 2025 Resolved
Nitrate-Nitrite
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Oct 2025 Resolved
Nitrite
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Oct 2025 Resolved
Nitrate-Nitrite
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 2025
Showing 20 of 135 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) 1.1 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 decreased by 1.9 ppb from 2005 (3.0 ppb) to 2025 (1.1 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
535
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Cokeville's water comes from

Groundwater

Cokeville'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 535 people through 1 water system.

Local Hydrology

Water bodies near Cokeville

Cokeville is located near 3 notable water bodies. These water bodies contribute to the regional watershed and may indirectly affect groundwater quality.

Bear River Below Pixley Dam,
river
Bear River Below Smiths Fork, Nr Cokeville
river
Bear River
river
Infrastructure

Water systems serving Cokeville

System Name PWSID Population Source
COKEVILLE, TOWN OF WY5600015 535 GW
Regional Comparison

How Cokeville compares

Full Wyoming rankings →

Cokeville'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.

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

About Cokeville, WY

Wikipedia →

Cokeville is a town in Lincoln County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 502 at the 2020 census. The town is known for the Cokeville Elementary School hostage crisis.

Economic Profile
$81,563
Median Income
$1,263/mo
Median Rent
6.8%
Unemployment
Community
28.5
Median Age
125
People / sq mi
34.1%
College Educated
72.4%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Cokeville, WY tap water safe to drink?

Cokeville's water quality earned a grade of D+ (50/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #52 out of 65 cities tested in Wyoming.

What contaminants are in Cokeville's water?

Lead was measured at 1.1 ppb (90th percentile). 135 violations are on record.

How is Cokeville'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 Cokeville?

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

Where does Cokeville's water come from?

Cokeville's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 535 residents.

What health violations has Cokeville's water system had?

Cokeville has 8 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in October 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 17 violations remain unresolved.

Is Cokeville's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Cokeville 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 135 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 Cokeville's water compare to other cities?

Cokeville ranks #52 out of 65 cities in Wyoming (better than 20% of state cities) and #13198 out of 15744 cities nationally (16th percentile). The grade of D+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Cokeville's small water system affect quality?

Cokeville's system serves approximately 535 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 135 violations on record.