Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Kent, WA tap water
26 contaminants were measured in the Kent, WA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 26
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Manganese
- Service area
- WA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in Kent, WA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Kent, WA's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 15 sources.
Source
- KENT SPRINGS 1,2,3
- CLARK SPRINGS 1,2,3
- EAST HILL
- SEVEN OAKS WELL
- + 11 more
Treatment
- Purchased Surface Water Guiberson
- Pump station 5
- Kent Springs (CT6)
- + 7 more
Distribution
Also buys water from HIGHLINE WATER DISTRICT, Auburn City of, and 5 more.
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0.51 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.05 mg/LSecondary MCL | At or above the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 0.0018 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.01 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.169 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0.028 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.3 mg/LSecondary MCL | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0039 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | 0.0018 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 5 mg/LSecondary MCL | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | None detected |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 26 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 15 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0003 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 21 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 1.99 NTUMaximumSystem-wide | None set | At or above the limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 25.2 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 500 mg/LSecondary MCL | Within the limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 136 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 0.84 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 2.28 ng/LMaximumSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 2.18 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 32.2 ug/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 6.4 ug/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.89 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 1.16 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 0–0.0063 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 0.1 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0MaximumSystem-wide | 0MCLG | None detected |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | Not detected pCi/LMaximumSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | None detected |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | Not detected pCi/LMaximumSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | None detected |
People also ask about Kent, WA's water
+Is Kent, WA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Kent, WA water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Manganese and Turbidity. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Kent, WA tap water?
26 contaminants were measured in Kent, WA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and disinfection byproducts. 16 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Kent, WA tap water?
2 contaminants in Kent, WA's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Manganese (10.2× the limit); Turbidity (2.0× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Kent, WA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Manganese, at 10.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Kent, WA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Kent, WA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.