What was found in Tacoma'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 | 4540 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9773.5 µg/L — GOLDEN MEADOW · 90 people · 2019 | 35/49 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 4268 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8400 µg/L — GOLDEN MEADOW · 90 people · 2019 | 29/49 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 880 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 950 µg/L — PARKLAND LIGHT & WATER COMPANY · 33,775 people · 2012 | 3/49 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 151.9 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 229.5 µg/L — SOUTHWOOD · 64,155 people · 2019 | 24/49 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 44 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019 | 25/49 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 2.91 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 36 µg/L — JACKSON LAKE SOUTH · 225 people · 2018 | 19/49 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 33.847 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019 | 25/49 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 31 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019 | 21/49 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 31 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019 | 11/49 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 20 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: MINTERBROOK · 5,083 people · 2019 | 2/49 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 19 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019 | 9/49 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019 | 11/49 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 6.73 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.4 µg/L — RAFT ISLAND · 575 people · 2019 | 35/49 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 7 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: CRESCENT VALLEY #333 · 91 people · 2017 | 1/49 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.65 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.65 µg/L — MINTERBROOK · 5,083 people · 2019 | 19/49 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4.85 µg/L 9.7% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: ROSEDALE EAST · 798 people · 2017 | 10/49 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 3.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.4 µg/L — PARKLAND LIGHT & WATER COMPANY · 33,775 people · 2019 | 20/49 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.108 µg/L — OLYMPIC MALL · 2,681 people · 2019 | 22/49 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 3.19 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2014 | 1/49 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.38 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019 | 1/49 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: JACKSON LAKE SOUTH · 225 people · 2019 | 1/49 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 1.58 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019 | 1/49 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.375 µg/L — SUMMIT WATER & SUPPLY CO · 19,125 people · 2019 | 7/49 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.7000 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2019 | 1/49 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.2000 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR CREST · 2,954 people · 2019 | 3/49 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.1536 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ARTONDALE · 5,828 people · 2023 | 4/49 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.1100 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SOUTHWOOD · 64,155 people · 2024 | 7/49 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0051 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0558 µg/L — ARTONDALE · 5,828 people · 2023 | 5/49 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0480 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SOUTHWOOD · 64,155 people · 2024 | 6/49 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0033 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0350 µg/L — QUISTORFF · 1,113 people · 2025 | 7/49 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpes | 0.0200 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: QUISTORFF · 1,113 people · 2025 | 3/49 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF · 446,170 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0140 mg/L — GOLDEN MEADOW · 90 people · 2024 | 48/49 | LCR |
| Pfba | 0.0140 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SOUTHWOOD · 64,155 people · 2024 | 3/49 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0063 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ARTONDALE · 5,828 people · 2023 | 3/49 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ARTONDALE · 5,828 people · 2023 | 2/49 | 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 Tacoma
Frequently asked questions about Tacoma tap water
Is Tacoma tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 35 contaminants in the water serving Tacoma. 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 Tacoma?
49 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Tacoma, Washington to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Tacoma's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Tacoma include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, 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.