What was found in Wenatchee'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 | 7730 µg/L 77% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019 | 9/10 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 5847.5 µg/L 58% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019 | 9/10 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 301.4 µg/L 7.5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: Bardin Hills Farmworker Housing · 36 people · 2017 | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 68 µg/L 5.2% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019 | 8/10 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 29.5 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 61 µg/L — EAST MONITOR WATER ASSN · 36 people · 2013 | 8/10 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 9.175 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 28.58 µg/L — CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2017 | 8/10 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 7.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.22 µg/L — CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2017 | 8/10 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 2.625 µg/L 4.4% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.95 µg/L — CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2017 | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.41 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.78 µg/L — CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2017 | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.81 µg/L — CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2017 | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.725 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.34 µg/L — CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2017 | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.13 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2014 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.166 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.02 µg/L — CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2017 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2017 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.37 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: TURTLEROCK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION · 133 people · 2016 | 5/10 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 1.2 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: Bardin Hills Farmworker Housing · 36 people · 2017 | 5/10 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.6600 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: CHELAN CO PUD - DRYDEN · 163 people · 2018 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 0.6200 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: CHELAN CO PUD - DRYDEN · 163 people · 2018 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.5200 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RIVER BEND PARK WATER SYSTEM · 40 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.1200 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON · 67 people · 2014 | 2/10 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0020 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: WENATCHEE CITY OF · 43,690 people · 2023 | 10/10 | 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 Wenatchee
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| WENATCHEE CITY OF | 43,690 |
| CHELAN CO PUD 1 | 16,190 |
| CHELAN CO PUD - CHELAN RIDGE | 2,429 |
| CHELAN FALLS WATER DISTRICT | 335 |
| CHELAN CO PUD - DRYDEN | 163 |
| TURTLEROCK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION | 133 |
| CHELAN CO PUD - OLALLA CANYON | 67 |
| RIVER BEND PARK WATER SYSTEM | 40 |
| Bardin Hills Farmworker Housing | 36 |
| EAST MONITOR WATER ASSN | 36 |
Frequently asked questions about Wenatchee tap water
Is Wenatchee tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Wenatchee. 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 Wenatchee?
10 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Wenatchee, Washington to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Wenatchee's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Wenatchee 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.