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Lead Contamination

Lead in Washington Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

287
Cities Tested
5
Exceeds Limit
2%
% Exceeds Limit
2.2 ppb
State Avg
▼ 0% vs national
vs National
261
Health Violations
Analysis

Lead in Washington: what the data shows

Washington has 287 cities with lead monitoring data, with very few cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 2.2 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. 5 cities exceed the 15 ppb action level. High lead levels in tap water typically indicate aging infrastructure — lead service lines, lead solder in older plumbing, or lead-containing brass fixtures. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

Washington
2%
5 of 287 cities
← = Exactly at national rate
National avg
2%
378 of 15681 cities
City Map

Lead data across Washington

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in Washington

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

  1. 1 B- Kenmore 36.0 ppb Yes 105K
  2. 2 B- Lynnwood 28.0 ppb Yes 268K
  3. 3 D+ South Bend 23.0 ppb Yes 3K
  4. 4 C- Spokane Valley 20.8 ppb Yes 34K
  5. 5 C+ Port Ludlow 17.0 ppb Yes 4K
  6. 6 B- Battle Ground 15.0 ppb 30K
  7. 7 D+ Yelm 12.6 ppb 20K
  8. 8 B Airway 11.1 ppb 9K
  9. 9 C Bremerton 10.5 ppb 97K
  10. 10 C Clinton 9.8 ppb 3K
All Cities

All Washington cities ranked by lead level

# City Level Level Exceeds? Violations Grade
1 Kenmore 36.0 ppb
Yes 0
B-
2 Lynnwood 28.0 ppb
Yes 0
B-
3 South Bend 23.0 ppb
Yes 83
D+
4 Spokane Valley 20.8 ppb
Yes 10
C-
5 Port Ludlow 17.0 ppb
Yes 27
C+
6 Battle Ground 15.0 ppb
No 12
B-
7 Yelm 12.6 ppb
No 12
D+
8 Airway 11.1 ppb
No 2
B
9 Bremerton 10.5 ppb
No 13
C
10 Clinton 9.8 ppb
No 8
C
11 Chinook 9.0 ppb
No 23
A-
12 Montesano 7.4 ppb
No 17
F
13 Milton 7.4 ppb
No 0
B+
14 Pomeroy 7.4 ppb
No 1
B+
15 Lakewood 7.3 ppb
No 5
B+
16 Mercer Island 6.3 ppb
No 1
A-
17 Toppenish 6.0 ppb
No 12
F
18 Suquamish 6.0 ppb
No 4
B+
19 Redmond 5.8 ppb
No 4
B-
20 Buckley 5.8 ppb
No 5
D+
21 Snohomish 5.8 ppb
No 11
D
22 Snoqualmie Pass 5.6 ppb
No 4
B+
23 Bridgeport 5.4 ppb
No 47
C
24 White Salmon 5.3 ppb
No 9
C+
25 Selah 5.2 ppb
No 4
B
26 Lind 5.2 ppb
No 7
B+
27 Castle Rock 5.0 ppb
No 2
A-
28 Pullman 4.9 ppb
No 0
B+
29 Loon Lake 4.7 ppb
No 14
F
30 Bothell 4.6 ppb
No 7
F
31 Puyallup 4.6 ppb
No 124
F
32 Napavine 4.6 ppb
No 104
D
33 Greenacres 4.4 ppb
No 12
B+
34 Auburn 4.2 ppb
No 18
D+
35 Fairchild Afb 4.2 ppb
No 0
B+
36 Trout Lake 4.2 ppb
No 1
B+
37 Lynden 4.1 ppb
No 235
F
38 Colton 4.1 ppb
No 1
A-
39 Ocean Park 4.0 ppb
No 6
B+
40 Edgewood 4.0 ppb
No 4
A-
41 Morton 4.0 ppb
No 3
B-
42 Toledo 4.0 ppb
No 2
A-
43 Pouslbo 4.0 ppb
No 4
A
44 Oakville 3.9 ppb
No 4
F
45 Long Beach 3.8 ppb
No 15
B
46 Colfax 3.8 ppb
No 4
B
47 Mckenna 3.8 ppb
No 0
A-
48 Everett 3.5 ppb
No 16
D
49 Clarkston 3.5 ppb
No 16
B+
50 Roslyn 3.5 ppb
No 2
B+
51 Nas Whidbey Island 3.4 ppb
No 0
A+
52 Rainier 3.4 ppb
No 1
A-
53 Federal Way 3.3 ppb
No 2
B
54 Lopez Island 3.3 ppb
No 28
F
55 Tacoma 3.2 ppb
No 232
F
56 Chelan 3.2 ppb
No 18
D
57 Oroville 3.2 ppb
No 7
A-
58 Ashford 3.2 ppb
No 3
A-
59 Palouse 3.2 ppb
No 5
A
60 Cusick 3.2 ppb
No 7
B+
61 Orting 3.1 ppb
No 1
B+
62 Steilacoom 3.1 ppb
No 1
A+
63 North Bonneville 3.1 ppb
No 0
A-
64 Bainbridge Island 3.0 ppb
No 3
A
65 Granite Falls 3.0 ppb
No 0
A-
66 Omak 3.0 ppb
No 5
D
67 Littlerock 3.0 ppb
No 3
A
68 Shelton 2.9 ppb
No 158
F
69 Leavenworth 2.9 ppb
No 20
C
70 Everson 2.8 ppb
No 8
B+
71 Bow 2.8 ppb
No 7
A-
72 Pateros 2.8 ppb
No 2
B+
73 Washougal 2.7 ppb
No 2
B+
74 Woodland 2.7 ppb
No 16
F
75 Laconner 2.7 ppb
No 0
A
76 Allyn 2.7 ppb
No 4
A-
77 Electric City 2.6 ppb
No 11
A
78 Sedro Woolley 2.6 ppb
No 1
A
79 Anderson Island 2.6 ppb
No 1
A-
80 Camas 2.5 ppb
No 2
C
81 Snoqualime 2.5 ppb
No 4
A-
82 Sumner 2.5 ppb
No 0
A-
83 Randle 2.5 ppb
No 0
A
84 Carlsborg 2.4 ppb
No 2
B-
85 Sunnyside 2.3 ppb
No 2
A-
86 Port Angeles 2.2 ppb
No 19
F
87 Moxee 2.2 ppb
No 2
B
88 Newport 2.2 ppb
No 14
D+
89 Washtucna 2.2 ppb
No 6
C+
90 Burbank 2.2 ppb
No 47
D
91 Vashion Island 2.2 ppb
No 2
B+
92 Ridgefield 2.1 ppb
No 0
D
93 Tenino 2.1 ppb
No 2
B+
94 Deming 2.1 ppb
No 23
D
95 Seattle 2.0 ppb
No 138
F
96 Port Townsend 2.0 ppb
No 15
F
97 Fife 2.0 ppb
No 4
A
98 Mukilteo 2.0 ppb
No 0
A-
99 Forks 2.0 ppb
No 8
D
100 Cathlamet 2.0 ppb
No 66
C
101 Winlock 2.0 ppb
No 4
B+
102 Mccleary 2.0 ppb
No 0
A
103 Ilwaco 2.0 ppb
No 4
A
104 Darrington 2.0 ppb
No 4
D
105 Mabton 2.0 ppb
No 1
A-
106 Port Gamble 2.0 ppb
No 9
A-
107 Packwood 2.0 ppb
No 2
A-
108 Neah Bay 2.0 ppb
No 22
D
109 Roy 2.0 ppb
No 0
B+
110 Lapush 2.0 ppb
No 2
B+
111 Bucoda 2.0 ppb
No 5
B+
112 Issaquah 1.8 ppb
No 10
C-
113 Birch Bay 1.8 ppb
No 14
A
114 Goldendale 1.8 ppb
No 15
B-
115 Mount Vernon 1.7 ppb
No 191
F
116 Sammamish 1.7 ppb
No 6
C-
117 Edmonds 1.7 ppb
No 0
A-
118 Spanaway 1.7 ppb
No 9
C+
119 Vashon 1.7 ppb
No 24
F
120 Waitsburg 1.7 ppb
No 1
A
121 Coulee Dam 1.7 ppb
No 1
A
122 Lake Stevens 1.7 ppb
No 7
C
123 Coupeville 1.6 ppb
No 448
F
124 Blaine 1.6 ppb
No 8
A
125 Deer Park 1.6 ppb
No 2
D
126 Eatonville 1.6 ppb
No 2
A-
127 La Conner 1.6 ppb
No 1
B+
128 Lacey 1.5 ppb
No 125
F
129 Kelso 1.5 ppb
No 15
F
130 Enumclaw 1.5 ppb
No 1
B+
131 Liberty Lake 1.5 ppb
No 2
A
132 Black Diamond 1.5 ppb
No 13
C-
133 Marshall 1.5 ppb
No 22
D
134 Mt Vernon 1.5 ppb
No 0
A
135 Custer 1.5 ppb
No 12
C+
136 Kent 1.4 ppb
No 31
F
137 Ferndale 1.4 ppb
No 110
F
138 Dupont 1.4 ppb
No 0
A
139 Fircrest 1.4 ppb
No 4
A-
140 Chewelah 1.4 ppb
No 7
B+
141 Kalama 1.4 ppb
No 0
C+
142 Cheney 1.3 ppb
No 5
A-
143 Greenbank 1.3 ppb
No 9
B-
144 Ronald 1.3 ppb
No 5
C+
145 Renton 1.2 ppb
No 11
D+
146 Yakima 1.2 ppb
No 162
F
147 Grandview 1.2 ppb
No 5
D+
148 Des Moines 1.2 ppb
No 5
A-
149 Royal City 1.2 ppb
No 1
A-
150 Stevenson 1.2 ppb
No 1
C+
151 Goldbar 1.2 ppb
No 1
A
152 Ion 1.2 ppb
No 2
A
153 Newman Lake 1.2 ppb
No 6
A+
154 Wilkeson 1.2 ppb
No 0
A
155 West Richland 1.1 ppb
No 99
F
156 Medical Lake 1.1 ppb
No 9
B-
157 Eastsound 1.1 ppb
No 29
F
158 Glacier 1.1 ppb
No 3
A-
159 Twisp 1.1 ppb
No 6
A
160 Anacortes 1.1 ppb
No 10
A-
161 Port Orchard 1.0 ppb
No 753
F
162 Sultan 1.0 ppb
No 33
B
163 Benton City 1.0 ppb
No 17
F
164 Zillah 1.0 ppb
No 11
D+
165 Rock Island 1.0 ppb
No 5
A-
166 Desert Aire 1.0 ppb
No 6
A-
167 Kittitas 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
168 Snoqualmie 1.0 ppb
No 10
A-
169 Winthrop 1.0 ppb
No 57
B
170 Point Roberts 1.0 ppb
No 2
A-
171 Yacolt 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
172 Freeland 0.9 ppb
No 129
D
173 Carson 0.9 ppb
No 0
C-
174 Republic 0.9 ppb
No 181
D
175 Olympia 0.8 ppb
No 66
F
176 Cle Elum 0.8 ppb
No 105
D
177 Quinault 0.8 ppb
No 3
D
178 Wenatchee 0.7 ppb
No 41
D
179 Maple Falls 0.7 ppb
No 35
D+
180 Rochester 0.7 ppb
No 5
A-
181 Lummi Island 0.7 ppb
No 32
D+
182 Marysville 0.6 ppb
No 12
D
183 Spokane 0.6 ppb
No 56
F
184 Monroe 0.6 ppb
No 4
C
185 Colville 0.6 ppb
No 44
D
186 Poulsbo 0.5 ppb
No 95
F
187 Ephrata 0.5 ppb
No 13
D
188 Falls City 0.5 ppb
No 2
B+
189 Lake Tapps 0.5 ppb
No 6
B-
190 Spangle 0.5 ppb
No 3
B+
191 Albion 0.5 ppb
No 7
A
192 Arlington 0.4 ppb
No 83
F
193 Dallesport 0.4 ppb
No 2
C+
194 Friday Harbor 0.3 ppb
No 153
F
195 Vancouver 0.0 ppb
No 36
F
196 Bellingham 0.0 ppb
No 54
F
197 Kennewick 0.0 ppb
No 78
F
198 Pasco 0.0 ppb
No 137
D
199 Richland 0.0 ppb
No 7
C+
200 Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
201 Kirkland 0.0 ppb
No 4
D+
202 Tumwater 0.0 ppb
No 24
D+
203 Silverdale 0.0 ppb
No 17
F
204 Woodinville 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
205 Longview 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
206 Walla Walla 0.0 ppb
No 84
D
207 Moses Lake 0.0 ppb
No 132
F
208 Sequim 0.0 ppb
No 64
F
209 Maple Valley 0.0 ppb
No 7
C+
210 Centralia 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
211 Oak Harbor 0.0 ppb
No 105
F
212 Mead 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
213 East Wenatchee 0.0 ppb
No 19
B
214 Gig Harbor 0.0 ppb
No 62
F
215 Ellensburg 0.0 ppb
No 19
D
216 Stanwood 0.0 ppb
No 31
D
217 Hoquiam 0.0 ppb
No 6
B-
218 Aberdeen 0.0 ppb
No 10
D
219 Raymond 0.0 ppb
No 76
F
220 Quincy 0.0 ppb
No 52
D+
221 North Bend 0.0 ppb
No 7
B+
222 Chehalis 0.0 ppb
No 12
F
223 Othello 0.0 ppb
No 102
D
224 Manchester 0.0 ppb
No 7
A
225 Cashmere 0.0 ppb
No 21
F
226 College Place 0.0 ppb
No 23
D
227 Wapato 0.0 ppb
No 11
F
228 Tonasket 0.0 ppb
No 134
D
229 Elma 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
230 Manson 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
231 Prosser 0.0 ppb
No 42
C+
232 Union Gap 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
233 Belfair 0.0 ppb
No 36
C-
234 Westport 0.0 ppb
No 4
D+
235 Brewster 0.0 ppb
No 7
D
236 Union 0.0 ppb
No 52
D
237 Mattawa 0.0 ppb
No 33
C
238 Connell 0.0 ppb
No 22
C+
239 Warden 0.0 ppb
No 9
D+
240 Hoodsport 0.0 ppb
No 5
C+
241 Granger 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
242 Lake Forest Park 0.0 ppb
No 15
D+
243 Okanogan 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
244 Naches 0.0 ppb
No 8
A
245 Fall City 0.0 ppb
No 18
B-
246 Dayton 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
247 Fox Island 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
248 Algona 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
249 Malaga 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
250 Waverly 0.0 ppb
No 25
D
251 Kettle Falls 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
252 Asotin 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
253 Nooksack 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
254 Adna 0.0 ppb
No 9
A
255 Mossyrock 0.0 ppb
No 14
C-
256 Joyce 0.0 ppb
No 10
A-
257 Sumas 0.0 ppb
No 17
A-
258 Mesa 0.0 ppb
No 15
C+
259 Davenport 0.0 ppb
No 14
A-
260 Onalaska 0.0 ppb
No 2
C+
261 Wellpinit 0.0 ppb
No 103
D+
262 Nespelem 0.0 ppb
No 40
D+
263 Ritzville 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
264 Tahola 0.0 ppb
No 15
D
265 Tekoa 0.0 ppb
No 5
C
266 Graham 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
267 Bingen 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
268 Entiat 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
269 Grand Coulee 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
270 Waterville 0.0 ppb
No 10
B
271 Langley 0.0 ppb
No 2
D
272 Harrah 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
273 Skokomish Nation 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
274 Rosalia 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
275 George 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
276 Coulee City 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
277 Carbonado 0.0 ppb
No 41
B
278 Pe Ell 0.0 ppb
No 16
B-
279 Camano Island 0.0 ppb
No 9
C
280 Acme 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
281 Startup 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
282 Malott 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
283 Rockford 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
284 Sprague 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
285 Ravensdale 0.0 ppb
No 22
B-
286 South Cle Elum 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
287 Thorp 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in Washington

Is lead in Washington tap water a concern?

Yes — 5 of 287 cities with lead data exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average is 2.2 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from Washington tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which Washington cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in Washington are: Kenmore (36.0 ppb), Lynnwood (28.0 ppb), South Bend (23.0 ppb), Spokane Valley (20.8 ppb), Port Ludlow (17.0 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

More contaminants

Other contaminants in Washington

PFAS in Washington
Ranked by compounds detected
→
Copper in Washington
Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)
→
HAA5 in Washington
Ranked by average concentration (µg/L)
→
Chromium-6 in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Arsenic in Washington
Ranked by violation count
→
Nitrate in Washington
Ranked by violation count
→
Strontium in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
1,4-Dioxane in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Manganese in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Vanadium in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Chlorate in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Molybdenum in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Cobalt in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Lithium in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
NDMA in Washington
Ranked by max detected (ng/L)
→
Perchlorate in Washington
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
All states

Lead in drinking water by state

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaQCRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
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