What was found in Kelso'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 | 350 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1160 µg/L — CAMELOT SUBDIVISION · 142 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 254 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2016
Highest in the city: 1030.5 µg/L — CAMELOT SUBDIVISION · 142 people · 2018 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 860 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2015 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 36.558 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 61.2455 µg/L — TOUTLE COMMUNITY REGIONAL WATER · 3,215 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 31.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 52.85 µg/L — TOUTLE COMMUNITY REGIONAL WATER · 3,215 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 20.075 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 38.6 µg/L — TOUTLE COMMUNITY REGIONAL WATER · 3,215 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 9.83 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 26.25 µg/L — TOUTLE COMMUNITY REGIONAL WATER · 3,215 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 23.82 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BEACON HILL WATER & SEWER DISTRICT · 11,969 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 17 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BEACON HILL WATER & SEWER DISTRICT · 11,969 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.6 µg/L — TOUTLE COMMUNITY REGIONAL WATER · 3,215 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12 µg/L — BEACON HILL WATER & SEWER DISTRICT · 11,969 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.945 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.2 µg/L — TOUTLE COMMUNITY REGIONAL WATER · 3,215 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.56 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BEACON HILL WATER & SEWER DISTRICT · 11,969 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: LEWIS RIVER GOLF COURSE · 300 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.285 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: TOUTLE COMMUNITY REGIONAL WATER · 3,215 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.1 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: LEWIS RIVER GOLF COURSE · 300 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: CAMELOT SUBDIVISION · 142 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0010 mg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: KELSO CITY OF · 15,775 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0021 mg/L — LEWIS RIVER GOLF COURSE · 300 people · 2023 | 7/7 | 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 Kelso
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| KELSO CITY OF | 15,775 |
| BEACON HILL WATER & SEWER DISTRICT | 11,969 |
| TOUTLE COMMUNITY REGIONAL WATER | 3,215 |
| RYDERWOOD IMPROVEMENT & SERVICE AS | 434 |
| LEWIS RIVER GOLF COURSE | 300 |
| CAMELOT SUBDIVISION | 142 |
| TOUTLE RIVER VIEW | 45 |
Frequently asked questions about Kelso tap water
Is Kelso tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 18 contaminants in the water serving Kelso. 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 Kelso?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Kelso, Washington to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Kelso's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Kelso 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.