What was found in Auburn's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 3500 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4700 µg/L — HAZELWOOD HEIGHTS · 85 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 3500 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2018 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 318 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2018 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 15.5 µg/L 103% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 19.1 µg/L — MUCKLESHOOT · 3,250 people · 2017 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 18.94 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2018 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 18.06 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2018 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 13.85 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: EVERGREEN SKY RANCH COMMUNITY WTR · 43 people · 2018 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 11.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 10.425 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.025 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 8 µg/L — MUCKLESHOOT · 3,250 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.115 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 4.565 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: EVERGREEN SKY RANCH COMMUNITY WTR · 43 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 2.191 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: EVERGREEN SKY RANCH COMMUNITY WTR · 43 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.7288 pCi/L 35% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: MUCKLESHOOT · 3,250 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: EVERGREEN SKY RANCH COMMUNITY WTR · 43 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.2900 µg/L 5.8% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0022 mg/L 15% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0042 mg/L — HAZELWOOD HEIGHTS · 85 people · 2025 | 8/8 | LCR |
| PFBS | 0.0041 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Auburn City of · 107,655 people · 2025 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Auburn
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| Auburn City of | 107,655 |
| MUCKLESHOOT | 3,250 |
| HAZELWOOD HEIGHTS | 85 |
| CRESTVIEW TRACTS #3 | 77 |
| EVERGREEN SKY RANCH COMMUNITY WTR | 43 |
| LOGANDALE WATER ASSOC INC. | 42 |
| WELLS WATER ASSOCIATION | 39 |
| BRAUNWOOD ESTATES | 35 |
Frequently asked questions about Auburn tap water
Is Auburn tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Auburn. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Auburn?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Auburn, Washington to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Auburn's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Auburn include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Lead, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.