01The verdict: is Little America water safe?
Little America's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of C+ (68.7/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,004 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
4 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 4.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓Check back after the next refresh
EPA data updates on a rolling basis; we fold in new samples and violations every month.
Get alerts ↓Little America's drinking water received a grade of C+ (68.7 out of 100), indicating fair water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,004 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 4.0 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 67 violations on record, including 36 health-based violations. 4 remain unresolved.
Little America ranks #38 out of 63 cities in Wyoming for water quality, placing it below average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Little America may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Little America's water
Every contaminant flagged in Little America, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 4.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Wyoming
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Wyoming
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Little America's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 67 violations on record, including 36 health-based violations. 4 remain unresolved.
7 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▲ Up 4 ppb since 2006. Latest reading: 4 ppb (2024) — 27% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Little America's water comes from
Little America's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under private ownership.
2,004 people
Residents served across Little America's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by private ownership and serves approximately 2,004 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| LITTLE AMERICA HOTELS & RESORTS, INC- WY | WY5600097 | 2,004 | Surface Water |
05Pressure on Little America's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
2 facilities within 10 miles reported 0 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Drought
Sweetwater County is in D3 (extreme drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Little America compares
Scores for nearby Wyoming cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Wyoming average (55/100)
Little America scores 68.7/100 — above the Wyoming average of 55/100. It outscores 7 of 10 nearby cities. Full Wyoming rankings →
30.8 / 100FCasper, WY
41.8 / 100FGillette, WY
44.5 / 100CLaramie, WY
55.2 / 100CRock Springs, WY
64.8 / 100FJackson, WY
43.2 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Little America's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Little America's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Flush taps & check your service line
Lead leaches from pipes as water sits. Run cold water 30 seconds before drinking (especially mornings), and ask the utility whether your address still has a lead service line.
Lead risks explained →Watch for Little America alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Little America, WY tap water safe to drink?
Little America's water quality earned a grade of C+ (68.7/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #38 out of 63 cities tested in Wyoming.
What contaminants are in Little America's water?
Lead was measured at 4.0 ppb (90th percentile). 67 violations are on record.
How is Little America'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 Little America?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Little America's water come from?
Little America's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,004 residents.
What health violations has Little America's water system had?
Little America has 36 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in April 2019. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 4 violations remain unresolved.
How does Little America's water compare to other cities?
Little America ranks #38 out of 63 cities in Wyoming (better than 40% of state cities) and #10872 out of 15382 cities nationally (29th percentile). The grade of C+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Little America's small water system affect quality?
Little America's system serves approximately 2,004 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 67 violations on record.