01The verdict: is Cle Elum water safe?
Cle Elum's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D (48/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 27 water systems serve approximately 8,996 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
Vanadium is over its legal limit
Measured at 23.14 µg/L against the EPA Short-term HA of 21 µg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.8 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓18 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Cle Elum's drinking water received a grade of D (48 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 27 water systems serve approximately 8,996 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.8 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 1259 violations on record, including 105 health-based violations. 54 remain unresolved.
Cle Elum ranks #224 out of 294 cities in Washington for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. The system has seen 18 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Cle Elum's water
Every contaminant flagged in Cle Elum, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.8 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Washington
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Washington
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Cle Elum's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 1259 violations on record, including 105 health-based violations. 54 remain unresolved.
1 of the last ten years was clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 3 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2025) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Cle Elum's water comes from
Cle Elum's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
27 systems
27 water systems (1 wholesaler), operated under private ownership.
8,996 people
Residents served across Cle Elum's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by private ownership and serves approximately 8,996 people through 27 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNCADIA RESORT | WA53AA317 | 2,640 | Purchased Surface Water |
| CLE ELUM WATER DEPARTMENT | WA5313500 | 2,213 | Surface Water |
| BASIN WATER SOURCES INC | WA5304600 | 1,158 | Groundwater |
| KITTITAS COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #5 | WA5342704 | 699 | Groundwater |
| KITTITAS COUNTY WATER DISTRICT #7 | WA5385295 | 463 | Groundwater |
| EASTON WATER DISTRICT | WA5342700 | 362 | Groundwater |
| Outlaw Camp | WA53AC008 | 193 | Groundwater |
| Palomino Fields | WA53AD362 | 156 | Groundwater |
| EVERGREEN VALLEY | WA5302150 | 152 | Groundwater |
| DRIFTWOOD ACRES MAINTENANCE CORP | WA5319943 | 114 | Groundwater |
| DIAMOND POINT WATER SYSTEM | WA5306536 | 110 | Groundwater |
| SKY MEADOWS RANCH COUNTRY CLUB WTR | WA5380005 | 98 | Groundwater |
| SUN ISLAND MAINTENANCE ASSN | WA5385128 | 97 | Groundwater |
| Game Farm Estates | WA53AB325 | 81 | Groundwater |
| Kiona West Heights Water Assoc. | WA5316589 | 77 | Groundwater |
| Cougar Campers | WA53AB548 | 44 | Groundwater |
| HIDDEN VALLEY GUEST RANCH | WA5332648 | 43 | Groundwater |
| RESERVOIR HILL MAINTENANCE ASSN | WA5308401 | 34 | Groundwater |
| Granite Glen | WA5329055 | 34 | Groundwater |
| CASCADE VIEW ESTATES #4 | WA5306581 | 30 | Groundwater |
| Turf Trails Domestic | WA53AB914 | 30 | Groundwater |
| Cottage Farms | WA53AC914 | 30 | Groundwater |
| Grasslands Park | WA53AB290 | 29 | Groundwater |
| Dakota Heights Water System | WA53AC681 | 29 | Groundwater |
| CASCADE VIEW ESTATES #1 | WA53AA044 | 28 | Groundwater |
| SWIFTWATER TRAILER PARK | WA5386633 | 27 | Groundwater |
| CASCADE VIEW ESTATES #3 | WA53AA046 | 25 | Groundwater |
05Pressure on Cle Elum's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
8 federal disaster declarations on record for Kittitas County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Kittitas County is in D1 (moderate drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Cle Elum compares
Scores for nearby Washington cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Washington average (53/100)
Cle Elum scores 48/100 — on par with the Washington average of 53/100. It outscores 6 of 10 nearby cities. Full Washington rankings →
42.3 / 100FTacoma, WA
32.2 / 100FVancouver, WA
32.9 / 100FSpokane, WA
39.2 / 100FKent, WA
44.4 / 100ABellevue, WA
91.6 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Cle Elum's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Cle Elum's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Cle Elum alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Cle Elum, WA tap water safe to drink?
Cle Elum's water quality earned a grade of D (48/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #224 out of 294 cities tested in Washington.
What contaminants are in Cle Elum's water?
Lead was measured at 0.8 ppb (90th percentile). 1259 violations are on record.
How is Cle Elum's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Cle Elum?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Cle Elum's water come from?
Cle Elum's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 27 water systems serving approximately 8,996 residents.
What health violations has Cle Elum's water system had?
Cle Elum has 105 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 54 violations remain unresolved.
How does Cle Elum's water compare to other cities?
Cle Elum ranks #224 out of 294 cities in Washington (better than 24% of state cities) and #13246 out of 15382 cities nationally (14th percentile). The grade of D reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.