Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Kent, Washington
Tap water in Kent, Washington receives a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 3 public water systems, primarily KENT WATER DEPARTMENT. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total PFOS and PFOA 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 concernTotal PFOS and PFOA, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.733 ppb, 183x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 7.23 ppb, 121x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.51 ppt, 1506x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 7.13 ppt, 1019x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
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.
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
COVINGTON 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.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 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 KENT WATER DEPARTMENT.