01The verdict: is Tinker Afb water safe?
Tinker Afb's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B+ (82.5/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,100 residents using groundwater (wells).
6 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 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓3 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Tinker Afb's drinking water received a grade of B+ (82.5 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,100 residents using purchased ground water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 6 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 6 remain unresolved.
Tinker Afb ranks #60 out of 357 cities in Oklahoma for water quality, placing it above average in the state. Tinker Afb purchases its water from a regional wholesaler, meaning quality depends on both the supplier's treatment and the local distribution system's condition. As a small community water system, Tinker Afb may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Tinker Afb's water
Every contaminant flagged in Tinker Afb, 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. | 0.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Oklahoma
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Oklahoma
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Tinker Afb'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 6 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 6 remain unresolved.
4 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.
▼ Down 0 ppb since 2010. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2025) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Tinker Afb's water comes from
Tinker Afb purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.
Purchased Groundwater
Water is bought from a regional wholesaler; quality starts at the supplier's intake and treatment.
Wholesale supplier
Primary treatment happens at the wholesaler; the local utility maintains disinfectant residual in its pipes.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
2,100 people
Residents served across Tinker Afb's service area.
Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of Tinker Afb's local distribution pipes and storage facilities. Purchased water systems are common in suburban areas and smaller communities that lack the infrastructure for independent treatment. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,100 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TINKER AFB FAMILY HOUSING | OK8005550 | 2,100 | Purchased Groundwater |
05Pressure on Tinker Afb'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.
Drought
Oklahoma County is in D2 (severe 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 Tinker Afb compares
Scores for nearby Oklahoma cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Oklahoma average (45/100)
Tinker Afb scores 82.5/100 — above the Oklahoma average of 45/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities. Full Oklahoma rankings →
38.6 / 100DTulsa, OK
48.5 / 100FBroken Arrow, OK
43.9 / 100FNorman, OK
38.4 / 100FLawton, OK
44.4 / 100FEdmond, OK
34.9 / 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 Tinker Afb's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Tinker Afb'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 →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Tinker Afb 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 Tinker Afb, OK tap water safe to drink?
Tinker Afb's water quality earned a grade of B+ (82.5/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #60 out of 357 cities tested in Oklahoma.
What contaminants are in Tinker Afb's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 6 violations are on record.
How is Tinker Afb'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 Tinker Afb?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Tinker Afb's water come from?
Tinker Afb's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,100 residents.
Is Tinker Afb's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Tinker Afb 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 6 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 Tinker Afb's water compare to other cities?
Tinker Afb ranks #60 out of 357 cities in Oklahoma (better than 83% of state cities) and #6863 out of 15382 cities nationally (55th percentile). The grade of B+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Tinker Afb's small water system affect quality?
Tinker Afb's system serves approximately 2,100 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 6 violations on record.