Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT
COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 56,172 residents in Kent, Washington using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline.
Is Kent tap water safe to drink?
COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 56,172 residents in Kent, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total PFOS and PFOA, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for Kent residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT.
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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 2.1 ppt, 2100x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 7.5 ppt, 1071x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 13.0 ppb, 217x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for Kent
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 50/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
13.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 217× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
13.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 139× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
20.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 133× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.57 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 66× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
17.4 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 44× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.18 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.84 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 34× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.94 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 9.8× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.429 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 4.8× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.392 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.9× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0743 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.7× over |
| 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 |
0.377 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.461 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.71 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.986 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 |
0.0286 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
11.1 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
COVINGTON WATER DISTRICT service area
This water system serves 1 community in King County, Washington. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for Kent water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.