Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Tacoma, Washington
Tap water in Tacoma, Washington receives a grade of D (68/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 2 public water systems, primarily TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; PFAS contamination; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Tacoma's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving Tacoma.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 5.94 ppb, 99x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.365 ppb, 91x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 9.81 ppb, 65x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF (system ID WA5386800) 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 Tacoma
Tacoma is served by 2 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.
TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
- Arsenic significantly above health guideline
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
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.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 |
| 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 |
5.94 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 99× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
9.81 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 65× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.81 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.48 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.8 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.52 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 18× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.22 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 16× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.5 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.71 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.5× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.164 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.2× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.668 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.4× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.37 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.6× 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 |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
0.103 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 1.0× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.3 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
70.1 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
14.8 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.52 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.544 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.00527 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00365 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.242 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.24 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.39 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
0.824 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0215 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 |
0.272 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
7.0 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 TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Tacoma's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: