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Community Water System · PWS NN0403000

Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA

Ft Defiance, Navajo Nation 86504 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 12,869 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

12,869
People served
248
EPA violations
43
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 248 drinking-water violations at Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA, 17% of them health-based - above the Navajo Nation per-system average.

248
Total EPA violations on record
17%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
12,869
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA

Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA is a native american-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 12,869 residents in Ft Defiance, Navajo Nation through 3,763 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 248 total violations for this system , of which 43 (17%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 177 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 19 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across Navajo Nation, EPA tracks 170 public water systems serving 167,275 people, with 29,535 cumulative violations and 1,366 health-based violations on record. About 100% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 173.7 violations. Statewide, 13 of 13 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (100%).

Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA's 248 violations sit above the Navajo Nation average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
12,869
Total Violations
248
Health-Based Violations
43
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Native American
Connections
3,763
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
41
Monitoring Violations
177
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 19 2017
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 13 2018
TTHM MR 13 2018
Coliform (TCR) MCL 11 2014
Combined Uranium MCL 7 2013
Coliform (TCR) MR 7 2016
Public Notice Other 6 2025
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 5 2011
Xylenes, Total MR 5 2011
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 5 2011
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 5 2011
Vinyl chloride MR 5 2011
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 5 2011
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 5 2011
Tetrachloroethylene MR 5 2011
Toluene MR 5 2011
Ethylbenzene MR 5 2011
Styrene MR 5 2011
CHLOROBENZENE MR 5 2011
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 5 2011
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 4 2011
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 4 2011
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 3 2011
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 3 2011
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 3 2011
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 3 2011
Carbon tetrachloride MR 3 2011
Trichloroethylene MR 3 2011
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 2011
Benzene MR 3 2011

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 406 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
4:2 FTS 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/18/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/18/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/18/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/18/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/18/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/18/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/23/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/23/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/23/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/23/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID NN0403000 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Navajo Nation Drinking Water Authority

Navajo Nation's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find NN regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2025 Public Notice Other 6 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 7500
2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule TT 2 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 8000
2018 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 13 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 2456
2018 TTHM MR 13 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 2950
2018 Nitrate MR 2 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 1040
2018 Nitrite MR 2 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 1041
2017 TTHM MCL 19 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 2950
2016 Coliform (TCR) MR 7 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 3100
2016 Revised Total Coliform Rule Other 2 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 8000
2014 Coliform (TCR) MCL 11 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 3100
2013 Combined Uranium MCL 7 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 4006
2011 cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 5 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 2380
2011 Xylenes, Total MR 5 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 2955
2011 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 5 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 2964
2011 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 5 SDWIS / NN0403000 / 2968

How Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA Navajo Nation avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 248 173.7 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 43 8 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 100% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 12,869 984 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 170 regulated public water systems in Navajo Nation.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA water safe to drink?
Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA (PWS ID: NN0403000) has 248 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 12,869 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA serve?
Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA serves 12,869 people in Ft Defiance, Navajo Nation. It is a Native American-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 3,763 service connections.
What type of violations does Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA have?
Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA has 248 total violations: 43 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 177 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA water?
No. Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA use?
Fort Defiance-Window Rock-St Michaels NTUA uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.