What was found in Richland'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 | 3196 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 3040 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 227.25 µg/L 5.7% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 83.11 µg/L 4.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 68.353 µg/L 85% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 60.98 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 51.01 µg/L 85% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 33.29 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 22.725 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 21.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.828 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 7.598 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 6.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 5.4585 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 2.74 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.812 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.78 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.425 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 1.17 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.1085 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | 0.0994 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.0700 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chlorobenzene | 0.0200 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.0170 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0145 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0116 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0101 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0089 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0066 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0058 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0054 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2023 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0024 mg/L 16% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: RICHLAND CITY OF · 106,499 people · 2024 | 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 Richland
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| RICHLAND CITY OF | 106,499 |
| GOOSE GAP WATER ASSOCIATION | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Richland tap water
Is Richland tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 33 contaminants in the water serving Richland. 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 Richland?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Richland, Washington to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Richland's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Richland include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Barium, 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.