Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in FEDERAL WAY, Washington

Served by LAKEHAVEN WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT. 148,809 residents.

Average score 47/100
Utilities 1
Population 148,809
Quick answer

Tap water in FEDERAL WAY, Washington receives a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by LAKEHAVEN WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?

What's in FEDERAL WAY's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving FEDERAL WAY.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.

Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total PFOS and PFOA detected at 5.81 ppt, 830x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.

Arsenic significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Arsenic detected at 2.77 ppb, 693x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.554 ppt, 554x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.

Recommended filters for FEDERAL WAY

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in FEDERAL WAY's water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.

All contaminants detected in FEDERAL WAY's tap water

Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →

Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
Total PFOS and PFOA
PFAS
5.81 ppt 0.007 100 100 0.007 830× over
Arsenic
Heavy metal
2.77 ppb 0.004 10.0 10 10 0.004 693× over
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)
PFAS
0.554 ppt 0.001 10.0 554× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
12.2 ppb 0.06 203× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
14.4 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 96× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
8.35 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 83× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
4.0 ppb 0.1 40× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
1.73 ppb 0.06 29× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
10.2 ppb 0.4 26× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
4.19 ppb 0.2 21× over
Nitrate and nitrite
Inorganic
1.38 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 9.8× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.645 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 4.6× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.0845 ppb 0.02 4.2× over
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFAS
0.315 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 3.5× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
0.344 ppb 0.1 3.4× over
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
0.735 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 2.5× over
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Radiological
0.06 pCi/L 0.05 5.0 1.2× over
Manganese
Heavy metal
18.2 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
17.2 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
1.3 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Bromoform
Disinfection byproduct
0.00911 ppb 0.5 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
0.0658 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)
PFAS
0.832 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
PFAS
0.565 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
PFAS
0.547 ppt 2000.0 Below guideline
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)
PFAS
0.234 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)
PFAS
0.214 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.0709 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
1-Butanol
Other
0.406 ppb Below guideline
PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA
PFAS
5.75 ppt 100 100 0.007 Below guideline

All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.

Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.

Treatment plant contact info

For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from LAKEHAVEN WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT.

General Contact

AddressPO BOX 4249, FEDERAL WAY, WA 98063

Treatment Plant

FacilityWell 7

ZIP codes served

FEDERAL WAY's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: