Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF
TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF delivers tap water graded C (67/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 446,170 residents in TACOMA, Washington using surface water. 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.
Is TACOMA tap water safe to drink?
TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 446,170 residents in TACOMA, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Nitrate and nitrite, Nitrate, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), 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 TACOMA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF.
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.
Contact TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
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Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for TACOMA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 67/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
5.94 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 99× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.365 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 91× 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 |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.153 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× 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 |
13.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.52 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.00527 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.242 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0682 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.272 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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.
TACOMA WATER DIVISION CITY OF 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 TACOMA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.