Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Richland, Washington
Tap water in Richland, Washington receives a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by RICHLAND CITY OF. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Richland's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Richland.
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.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 21.4 ppt, 3058x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.94 ppt, 1936x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 32.0 ppb, 534x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for RICHLAND CITY OF (system ID WA5372250) 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.
Recommended filters for Richland
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Richland'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 Richland'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 |
4.37 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
21.4 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 3058× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.94 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1936× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
32.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 534× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
38.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 258× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
23.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 235× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 140× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
30.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 77× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.65 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.27 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 46× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.84 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 32× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 24× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.12 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.35 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 17× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.65 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.189 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.3× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.11 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.5× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.49 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.0× over |
| Vanadium Other |
0.983 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
11.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
2.54 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.269 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.32 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.67 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.88 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.03 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.47 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.14 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0384 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.125 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
27.1 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 RICHLAND CITY OF.