Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
KENT WATER DEPARTMENT
KENT WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 166,421 residents in Kent, Washington using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline.
Is Kent tap water safe to drink?
KENT WATER DEPARTMENT 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 166,421 residents in Kent, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Total PFOS and PFOA, Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chloroform, Chromium (hexavalent), Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromochloromethane, Bromate*. 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 KENT WATER DEPARTMENT.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernTotal PFOS and PFOA, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.733 ppb, 183x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 7.23 ppb, 121x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact KENT WATER DEPARTMENT
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.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
2.28 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 326× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.733 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 183× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
7.23 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 121× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
7.28 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
2.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.38 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 23× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.92 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
4.92 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.175 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.8× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.776 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.8× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.07 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.3× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.696 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.0× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.696 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.0× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.337 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.4× 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 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.114 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.27 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.488 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.00983 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
2.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
0.242 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
2.25 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | 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 |
0.109 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0705 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.178 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.69 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| PFOS + PFOA + PFHxS + PFNA PFAS |
2.28 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.
KENT WATER DEPARTMENT 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.