What was found in Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord'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 | 1600 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1400 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 720 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 12.3196 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20.375 µg/L — JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 7.3985 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15 µg/L — JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 2.755 µg/L 4.6% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 14.075 µg/L — JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 10.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.42 µg/L — JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.865 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.655 µg/L — JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.18 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 5.025 µg/L — JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 3.168 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.335 µg/L — JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 4.3 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.3000 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.41 µg/L — JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.359 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 1.6 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2.3 µg/L — JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 2.2 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 1.11 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Highest in the city: JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.7117 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Asbestos | 0.1230 MFL 1.8% of the EPA limit 7 MFL Highest in the city: JBLM McChord Field · 7,290 people · 2018 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.0111 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2024 | 2/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0088 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2024 | 2/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0068 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0054 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0031 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: JBLM Lewis · 35,414 people · 2025 | 2/2 | 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 Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| JBLM Lewis | 35,414 |
| JBLM McChord Field | 7,290 |
Frequently asked questions about Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord tap water
Is Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord. 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 Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord, Washington to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, TTHM, Chloroform. 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.