What was found in Olympia's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 5500 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 17/20 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 2800 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 12/20 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 890 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 3/20 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 438 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 4/20 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 300 µg/L 7.5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 2/20 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 132 µg/L 165% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 10/20 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 127 µg/L No EPA limit set | 10/20 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 75.6 µg/L 126% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 7/20 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 46.94 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/20 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 33.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 10/20 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 31.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/20 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/20 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set | 8/20 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 6.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/20 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 6.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/20 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.2 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L | 5/20 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.8 µg/L 48% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 6/20 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2.6 pCi/L 52% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 2/20 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 1.82 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 1/20 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/20 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.23 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 3/20 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0085 mg/L 57% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 20/20 | LCR |
| PFOS | 0.0058 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/20 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0048 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/20 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/20 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/20 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0033 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/20 | UCMR-5 |
Water suppliers serving Olympia
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| OLYMPIA CITY OF | 126,966 |
| GRAND MOUND | 3,764 |
| NISQUALLY-LESCHI & WEST NISQUALLY | 3,200 |
| CARLYON BEACH HOMEOWNERS | 1,273 |
| BOSTON HARBOR | 1,153 |
| BLACK LAKE BIBLE CAMP & CONF CTR | 477 |
| CUYAMACA | 375 |
| TAMOSHAN | 260 |
| COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES 521 | 113 |
| BLACK LAKE ACRES | 104 |
| NORTH OFFUT LAKE WTR SERVICE | 97 |
| WOODARD PLACE | 94 |
| PIONEER | 84 |
| HAYNES ACRES DIVISION 1 | 74 |
| Ski View Estates | 47 |
| COOPER POINT ESTATES | 36 |
| Sexton | 35 |
| CLOISTER | 29 |
| DELPHI DAUBEL | 29 |
| SALT AIRE MOBILE TERRACE | 23 |
Frequently asked questions about Olympia tap water
Is Olympia tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Olympia. 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 Olympia?
20 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Olympia, Washington to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Olympia's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Olympia include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Barium, Fluoride. The full list, with the highest level found 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.