What was found in Bellingham'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 | 420 µg/L 4.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6520 µg/L — COUNTRY HAVEN WATER ASSOC · 50 people · 2019 | 10/18 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 395.5 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5400 µg/L — COUNTRY HAVEN WATER ASSOC · 50 people · 2016 | 5/18 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 440 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: ANDERSON CREEK WATER ASSOCIATION · 41 people · 2013 | 4/18 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 59.065 µg/L 74% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 67.49 µg/L — Deer Creek Water Assn/Guide South · 251 people · 2019 | 12/18 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 7 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 62 µg/L — WAHL WATER ASSOC · 165 people · 2019 | 5/18 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 52.93 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 58.26 µg/L — Deer Creek Water Assn/Guide South · 251 people · 2019 | 12/18 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 22.78 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 55.05 µg/L — Glen Cove Water Association · 39 people · 2019 | 12/18 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 14.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 31.26 µg/L — MOUNT BAKER MOBILE HOME PARK · 87 people · 2019 | 12/18 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 10.17 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.36 µg/L — MOUNT BAKER MOBILE HOME PARK · 87 people · 2019 | 10/18 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 15.37 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: Glen Cove Water Association · 39 people · 2019 | 3/18 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 11.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: Glen Cove Water Association · 39 people · 2019 | 2/18 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 10.94 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SUNSET WATER ASSOCIATION · 174 people · 2017 | 2/18 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 10 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: SMITH ROAD WATER ASSOCIATION · 77 people · 2018 | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 5.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.775 µg/L — MOUNT BAKER MOBILE HOME PARK · 87 people · 2019 | 12/18 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 6.71 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ANDERSON CREEK WATER ASSOCIATION · 41 people · 2017 | 4/18 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 0.6000 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.435 µg/L — SUNSET WATER ASSOCIATION · 174 people · 2017 | 12/18 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 6.325 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: Glen Cove Water Association · 39 people · 2019 | 6/18 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 6.1 µg/L 61% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: SUNSET WATER ASSOCIATION · 174 people · 2015 | 7/18 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 3.9 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: MOUNT BAKER WATER ASSOCIATION · 500 people · 2015 | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: ANDERSON CREEK WATER ASSOCIATION · 41 people · 2013 | 2/18 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0034 mg/L 23% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 141,127 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0042 mg/L — LWWSD - SOUTH SHORE WATER SYSTEM · 10,028 people · 2025 | 15/18 | LCR |
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 Bellingham
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BELLINGHAM-WATER DIVISION CITY OF | 141,127 |
| LWWSD - SOUTH SHORE WATER SYSTEM | 10,028 |
| DEER CREEK WATER ASSOC. | 2,000 |
| WHATCOM COUNTY WATER DIST #7 | 1,410 |
| WHATCOM COUNTY WATER DIST #2 | 1,353 |
| MOUNT BAKER WATER ASSOCIATION | 500 |
| Deer Creek Water Assn/Guide South | 251 |
| LWWSD - EAGLERIDGE | 196 |
| SUNSET WATER ASSOCIATION | 174 |
| WAHL WATER ASSOC | 165 |
| CHUCKANUT TRAILS WATER SYSTEM | 158 |
| LWWSD - AGATE HEIGHTS | 147 |
| MOUNT BAKER MOBILE HOME PARK | 87 |
| SMITH ROAD WATER ASSOCIATION | 77 |
| COUNTRY HAVEN WATER ASSOC | 50 |
| VICTOR WATER ASSOCIATION | 43 |
| ANDERSON CREEK WATER ASSOCIATION | 41 |
| Glen Cove Water Association | 39 |
Frequently asked questions about Bellingham tap water
Is Bellingham tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Bellingham. 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 Bellingham?
18 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bellingham, Washington to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bellingham's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bellingham include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, TTHM, Barium. 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.