Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
JBLM Lewis
JBLM Lewis delivers tap water graded F (51/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 62,197 residents in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington using groundwater. 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord tap water safe to drink?
JBLM Lewis delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (51/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 62,197 residents in Joint Base Lewis-McChord, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Total PFOS and PFOA, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium (hexavalent), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Nitrate, Chloroform. 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for JBLM Lewis.
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 5.51 ppt, 5508x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 11.0 ppt, 1574x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 1.98 ppb, 33x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact JBLM Lewis
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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord
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 51/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
6.71 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
5.51 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 5508× over |
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
11.0 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1574× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
1.98 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.88 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 32× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
3.13 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.265 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
1.13 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.598 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.523 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.16 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 3.2× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.279 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.0× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.703 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.188 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
54.9 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
24.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.051 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.47 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
7.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.42 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.388 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.282 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.06 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2-Methoxyethanol Other |
0.0323 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane Radiological |
0.00107 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0737 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
17.5 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.
JBLM Lewis service area
This water system serves 1 community in Pierce County, Washington. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for Joint Base Lewis-McChord water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.