This system was not included in federal PFAS monitoring
FYI▾
Should I be concerned?
This system serves fewer than 3,300 people and was not required to participate in EPA UCMR5 testing. Absence of data is not the same as absence of contamination.
Lead risk depends on your home, not just the water system
74% lead or unknown lines
Act soon▾
The concern isn't usually the treatment plant — it's pipes inside older homes. No level is considered safe for children under 6.
Should I be worried?
Not necessarily — but if your home was built before 1986, it's worth checking whether you have lead pipes or solder. Run cold water 30 seconds before drinking in the morning.
Range: 0.2 to 0.21 mg/L across 2 samples (Apr 2025 to Apr 2026).
What is it?
Comes from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. One of the most common groundwater contaminants in agricultural areas.
Why it matters
Nitrate above 10 mg/L can cause "blue baby syndrome" (methemoglobinemia) in infants under 6 months — it interferes with blood's ability to carry oxygen. Adults can tolerate higher levels.
What to do
If you have an infant on formula and your water is above 5 mg/L, consider using bottled water for formula preparation. Boiling water does NOT remove nitrate — it concentrates it.
What the research says
Multiple peer-reviewed studies have found neural tube defects, preterm birth, and low birth weight at concentrations as low as 5 mg/L — 2x below the US federal limit.
Range: 0.032 to 0.07 mg/L across 10 samples (Aug 2024).
What is it?
Leaches from copper household plumbing and pipes. Some copper is a normal part of drinking water infrastructure.
Why it matters
Short-term exposure above the action level of 1.3 mg/L can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure can cause liver and kidney damage. At typical detected levels (well below the AL), copper is not a health concern.
What to do
If above the action level, run your tap for 30 seconds before drinking. Copper levels decrease as water flows through the pipes.
Lead▸
0.00031 mg/L · Aug 2024
Action levellegally enforceable
Sample history
Range: 0.0031 to 0.0031 mg/L across 10 samples (Aug 2024).
What is it?
Lead in drinking water almost always comes from your home's plumbing — not from the water source or treatment plant. Lead pipes, solder, and brass fixtures can leach lead, especially if water sits in pipes for hours.
Why it matters
There is no safe level of lead exposure. Even low levels can harm children's brain development, and cause kidney and blood pressure problems in adults. The action level of 15 µg/L is a regulatory trigger, not a safety threshold.
What to do
Run your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, especially in the morning. Use cold water for cooking and formula — hot water leaches more lead. A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead removal is the most reliable protection.
What the research says
There is no safe level of lead exposure. Lead crosses the placenta and causes preterm birth and cognitive impairment in children at blood lead levels below 10 µg/dL.
Do you have or use a private well? Measured concentrations from nearby private wells sampled within 5 miles.
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1 site within 10 mi
Nearby Superfund Sites
1 EPA Superfund site within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily mean your water is affected.
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Blended supply
Water Sources
Puyallup uses both groundwater and surface water sources, giving it more supply flexibility during drought conditions. Emergency backup sources are available if primary supplies are disrupted.