Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Kent, Washington
Tap water in Kent, Washington receives a grade of F (58/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 3 public water systems, primarily COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT. 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; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Kent's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving Kent.
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 2.1 ppt, 2100x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 7.5 ppt, 1071x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 13.0 ppb, 217x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.733 ppb, 183x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT (system ID WA5341650) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Water systems serving Kent
Kent is served by 3 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.
COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT
- PFAS contamination
- Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
- Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
KENT WATER DEPARTMENT
- PFAS contamination
- Arsenic significantly above health guideline
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
HIGHLINE WATER DISTRICT
- PFAS contamination
- Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
- Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Recommended filters for Kent
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Kent's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 Kent'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.1 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2100× over |
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
7.5 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1071× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
31.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 524× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
3.13 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 521× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
23.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 235× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.733 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 183× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
26.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 173× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 120× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.25 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
21.6 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.8 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.928 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 46× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.92 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.09 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.94 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 9.8× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.175 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.8× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.514 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 5.7× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.696 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.0× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.696 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.0× over |
| Bromate* Disinfection byproduct |
0.103 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 1.0× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0235 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene* Volatile organic compound |
0.3 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
67.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.3 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
17.1 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.992 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.00983 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.668 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
0.242 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
2.25 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.71 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
0.824 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.986 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
0.0215 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.414 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.329 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0705 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.178 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.69 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
17.1 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 COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT.