What was found in Tacoma'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 | 9790 µg/L 98% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 97/129 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 9000 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 87/129 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1000 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 4/129 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 284 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 4/129 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 240 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 60/129 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 100 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 84/129 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 66.9 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 27/129 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 61.9 µg/L 77% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 48/129 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 55.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 41/129 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 41.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 21/129 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 36 µg/L 240% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 39/129 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set | 36/129 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set | 27/129 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 20 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 71/129 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 10 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 77/129 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 7 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/129 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 36/129 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 10/129 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 24/129 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 3.2 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 1/129 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/129 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/129 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 1.7 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/129 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/129 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.7000 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 2/129 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.2000 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 4/129 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.1536 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/129 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.1100 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/129 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0558 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/129 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0480 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/129 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0350 µg/L No EPA limit set | 8/129 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0230 mg/L 153% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 128/129 | LCR |
| Pfpes | 0.0200 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/129 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0140 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/129 | UCMR-5 |
| 6:2 Fts | 0.0095 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/129 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0063 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/129 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/129 | UCMR-5 |
Water suppliers serving Tacoma
The 50 largest of 129 suppliers serving Tacoma, by population served.
Frequently asked questions about Tacoma tap water
Is Tacoma tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 37 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?
129 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, Nitrite, Copper. 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.