Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Spokane, Washington
Tap water in Spokane, Washington receives a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 2 public water systems, primarily Spokane Water Utilities. The most significant water quality concerns are: Lead detected in source water; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected; PFAS contamination; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database, and Spokane's published Consumer Confidence Report.
What's in Spokane's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving Spokane.
Lead detected in source water
Severe concernLead detected at 1.9 ppb. EWG considers no level of lead safe; EPA's action level is 15 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 3.44 ppb, 860x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.41 ppb.
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 5.05 ppt, 722x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Water systems serving Spokane
Spokane is served by 2 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.
Spokane Water Utilities
- Lead detected in source water
- Arsenic significantly above health guideline
- Chromium-6 detected
SPOKANE CITY OF
- PFAS contamination
- Arsenic significantly above health guideline
- Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Recommended filters for Spokane
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Spokane's water supply.
NSF/ANSI 53 certified for lead removal
$80-$750NSF 53 is the gold standard certification for lead removal. Required when lead is a documented concern.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 Spokane'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
3.44 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2023 | 860× over |
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
5.05 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 722× over |
| Radon Radiological |
398.0 pCi/L | 1.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 265× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.83 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2023 | 68× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
20.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 34× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.3 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2024 | 24× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.431 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2023 | 22× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
2.19 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.26 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.557 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.3× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.23 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.8× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.469 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.8× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.718 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.2× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.407 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 4.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.33 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.4× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.16 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.355 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.227 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.473 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
19.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.732 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.184 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
1.31 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.572 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.537 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.733 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.102 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.17 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2022 | — |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0142 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
5.05 ppt | — | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | Below guideline |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.3 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 24× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
3.44 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 860× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.83 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 68× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
20.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 34× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.431 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 22× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.17 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
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 Spokane Water Utilities.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants or test results.