Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Tacoma, WA tap water
13 contaminants were measured in the Tacoma, WA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 13
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- WA
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Tacoma, WA's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 34 sources.
Source
- U.P. NO. 1 ABM926
- GPL NO. 1 ACN710
- GPL NO. 2 ACN709
- 1-B
- + 30 more
Treatment
- Green River WTP
- South Tacoma Pump Station
- Hood Street Reservoir
- + 5 more
Distribution
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.
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based8 violations on record · most recent Nov 2014resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 4.26 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.54–0.96 mg/LRangeOf Level Detected | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Total | 0.3–1.46 mg/LRangeOf Level Detected | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TrichloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (TCE) used in metal degreasing. | 1.4 ug/LMaximumSystem-wide | 5 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 1.7 ug/LMaximumSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0Reported levelAt the tap | 1.3Action level | None detected |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detected ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | None detected |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 13.2 ug/LRunning annual avgOur | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 1.9 ug/LRunning annual avgOur | None set | Within the limit |
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 0Running annual avgOur | None set | None detected |
| ChloroformA trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. | 0.72 ug/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.015–0.034 NTURangeOf Level Detected | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0.04Running annual avgOur | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Tacoma, WA's water
+Is Tacoma, WA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 13 contaminants measured in Tacoma, WA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Tacoma, WA tap water?
13 contaminants were measured in Tacoma, WA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning disinfection byproducts, metals, and inorganic chemicals. 7 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Tacoma, 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 Tacoma, 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.