Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
Tap water in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington receives a grade of F (51/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by JBLM Lewis. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Joint Base Lewis-McChord's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 5.51 ppt, 5508x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 11.0 ppt, 1574x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 1.98 ppb, 33x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Recommended filters for Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Joint Base Lewis-McChord's water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
6.71 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
5.51 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 5508× over |
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
11.0 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1574× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
1.98 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.88 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 32× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
3.13 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.265 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
1.13 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.598 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.523 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.16 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 3.2× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.279 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.0× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.703 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.188 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
54.9 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
24.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.051 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.47 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
7.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.42 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.388 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.282 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.06 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2-Methoxyethanol Other |
0.0323 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane Radiological |
0.00107 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0737 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
17.5 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 JBLM Lewis.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Joint Base Lewis-McChord's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: