WaterVerge

Is Pouslbo, WA Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A, with 2 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

1K residents served 1 water system PWSID: WA5326627
Overall Score
90.4 / 100
Violations
2 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#38 of 294 in Washington Top 14% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
AGRADE
Water Quality Grade
90.4/100
waterverge.com
A 90.4/100

Pouslbo, WA — Water Quality Report

Pouslbo's drinking water received a grade of A (90.4 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,229 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 4.0 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 19 violations on record, including 4 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Pouslbo's water

Pouslbo ranks #38 out of 294 cities in Washington for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

Pouslbo relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Pouslbo may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
90.4 out of 100 Grade A
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
43.4/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
17/20
B
Lead at 4.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Pouslbo, WA water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Pouslbo's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (90.4/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,229 residents using groundwater (wells).

2
Active Violations
4.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Pouslbo

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Pouslbo's water quality assessment. Grade: A (90.4/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Pouslbo's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 4.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Pouslbo's water system has 19 total violations on record, including 4 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.

MCLMR
Most recent violations:
Aug 2000 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Jul 2000 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Sep 1999 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Jun 1998 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Jan 1998 Lead and Copper Rule Open

Where does Pouslbo's water come from?

Pouslbo's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,229 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Pouslbo residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Flush your taps

Run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking, especially in the morning. Lead and copper leach from household plumbing when water sits in pipes.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
4.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 27% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

19
Total violations
4
Health-based
2
Active / unresolved
Aug 2000
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

19 Total
2 Active
4 Health-based
17 Resolved
Violations by category
Total Coliform Rule
8
Inorganic Chemicals
6
Lead and Copper Rule
1
Arsenic Rule
1
Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule
1
Jan 1998 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Aug 2000 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Aug 2000
Jul 2000 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jul 2000
Sep 1999 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 1999
Jun 1998 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 1998
Dec 1996 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Dec 1996
Dec 1995 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Dec 1995
May 1995 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved May 1995
Oct 1994 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Nov 1994
Oct 1979 Resolved
Arsenic
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1979
Oct 1979 Resolved
Barium
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1979
Oct 1979 Resolved
Selenium
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1979
Oct 1979 Resolved
Mercury
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1979
Oct 1979 Resolved
Cadmium
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1979
Oct 1979 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1979
Oct 1979 Resolved
Fluoride
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1979
Oct 1979 Resolved
Chromium
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1979
Oct 1979 Resolved
Nitrate
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1979

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 4.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has increased by 3.0 ppb from 1995 (1.0 ppb) to 1997 (4.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,229
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Pouslbo's water comes from

Groundwater

Pouslbo's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,229 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Pouslbo

System Name PWSID Population Source
FROG POND WA5326627 1,229 GW
Regional Comparison

How Pouslbo compares

Full Washington rankings →

Pouslbo's score of 90.4/100 is above the average of 53/100 among major Washington cities. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities.

Pouslbo (this city)
90.4
Seattle
42.3
Tacoma
32.2
Vancouver
32.9
Spokane
39.2
Kent
44.4
Washington avg
53
Share this reportHelp others learn about their water quality
WhatsAppXFacebookLinkedInEmail

Frequently asked questions

Is Pouslbo, WA tap water safe to drink?

Pouslbo's water quality earned a grade of A (90.4/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #38 out of 294 cities tested in Washington.

What contaminants are in Pouslbo's water?

Lead was measured at 4.0 ppb (90th percentile). 19 violations are on record.

How is Pouslbo'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 Pouslbo?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Pouslbo's water come from?

Pouslbo's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,229 residents.

What health violations has Pouslbo's water system had?

Pouslbo has 4 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in August 2000. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 2 violations remain unresolved.

Is Pouslbo's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Pouslbo uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 19 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Pouslbo's water compare to other cities?

Pouslbo ranks #38 out of 294 cities in Washington (better than 87% of state cities) and #2244 out of 15744 cities nationally (86th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Pouslbo's small water system affect quality?

Pouslbo's system serves approximately 1,229 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 19 violations on record.