Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Tacoma, Washington
Tap water in Tacoma, Washington receives a grade of F (56/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 2 public water systems, primarily City of Tacoma Water Department. The most significant water quality concerns are: Lead detected in source water; Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 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 Tacoma's published Consumer Confidence Report.
What's in Tacoma's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving Tacoma.
Lead detected in source water
Severe concernLead detected at 2.4 ppb. EWG considers no level of lead safe; EPA's action level is 15 ppb.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic Acids (HAA5) detected at 40.2 ppb, 402x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.07 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 6.85 ppt, 978x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Water systems serving Tacoma
Tacoma is served by 2 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.
City of Tacoma Water Department
- Lead detected in source water
- Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
- Chromium-6 detected
SOUTHWOOD
- PFAS contamination
- Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
- Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Recommended filters for Tacoma
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Tacoma'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.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Chromium-6 requires reverse osmosis for reliable removal. Standard carbon filters do not address it.
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 Tacoma'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
6.85 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 978× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
40.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2022 | 402× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.13 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 282× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.141 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 141× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
2.28 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
13.2 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 22× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
1.95 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
2.88 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.67 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2022 | 12× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.22 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.7× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.668 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.4× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.428 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.1× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0976 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.37 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.6× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.083 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2022 | 4.2× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.18 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 3.7× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.313 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.1× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.734 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.25 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.105 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
52.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
14.8 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.46 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.544 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00365 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.24 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.39 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.52 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.624 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0703 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0238 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
7.0 ppt | — | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | Below guideline |
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.78 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2022 | — |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
13.2 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 22× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
40.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 402× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.67 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 12× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.083 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 4.2× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.78 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 City of Tacoma Water Department.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants or test results.
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Tacoma's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: