Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Kennewick?
Yes, Kennewick's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Kennewick has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Kennewick's water utility, City of Kennewick, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Kennewick was resolved on Sept. 30, 2016. This assessment is based on the City of Kennewick water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Kennewick Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Kennewick tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Kennewick's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Kennewick Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named City of Kennewick for Kennewick in Washington. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From July 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2016, Kennewick had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
For the compliance period beginning July 1, 2016, Kennewick had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Other Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report which falls into the Other rule code group, and the Consumer Confidence Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Consumer Confidence Rule.
Is there Lead in Kennewick Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Kennewick water system, City of Kennewick, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0016 mg/L of lead in Kennewick water. This is 10.7% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Kennewick contained more lead.
While Kennewick water testing may have found 0.0016 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Kennewick Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Umatilla Chemical Depot - near Kennewick with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Kennewick has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Kennewick SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/01/2016 - 09/30/2016 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 07/01/2016 - 09/30/2016 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 07/01/2016 - | Resolved | No | Other Violation (Other) | Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report (71) | Consumer Confidence Rule (420) | Consumer Confidence Rule (7000) | Other (400) | Consumer Confidence Rule (420) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Kennewick Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | PO BOX 6108 KENNEWICK, WA, 99336 |
Existing customers can login to their City of Kennewick account to pay their Kennewick water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your City of Kennewick bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Kennewick water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Kennewick water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Kennewick means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Kennewick. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Kennewick means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Kennewick. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.65 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Kennewick, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Kennewick Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Kennewick's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
WATER QUALITY
REPORT 2020
EN ESPAÑOL
Este informe contiene información importante acerca de su agua potable. Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.
IS YOUR WATER SAFE?
Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(1-800-426-4791)
Contaminant levels in your drinking water are at or below state and federal regulatory limits. The test results are shown in the Water Quality AnalysisTable. Although the City of Kennewick water is tested for all regulated and many unregulated contaminants, some contaminants not detected in the water are not included in this report. However, additional monitoring data is available upon request.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with private service lines and home plumbing. The City of Kennewick is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for thirty seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Caution: Never drink
water directly from rivers, lakes or irrigation canals.
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?
City Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesday’s of each month at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall (210 W. 6th Avenue). The agenda for each meeting is published on the City’s website at www.go2kennewick. com. On occasion, items related to the water system are discussed. Please feel free to participate.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Another contact for additional information on the health aspects of local drinking water is the
Safe, reliable drinking water is a basic life necessity. The C ity of
K ennewick is proud to deliver excellent water to our customers every day. We think it is important for our customers to understand where their water comes from, how safe it is, and what actions we take to ensure its continuing high quality. The following report provides the information you need to know about the water you drink. The City ensures the tap water you receive is safe through an extensive water quality monitoring program. Over 1000 tests are run annually. In 2020, no EPA maximum contaminant level was exceeded.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact Information: If you have questions about this report, or about water quality, please call the City’s Water Treatment Plant at (509)
HARDNESS
The hardness of City water ranges from 50 to 200 ppm (5 to 14 grains/ gallon). These hardness levels vary throughout the year. Up to the moment information on hardness levels can be obtained by contacting the City’s Water Treatment Plant at (509) 585-4318.
AQUIFER STORAGE & RECOVERY WELL PROJECT
The City entered into a grant agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) to complete an Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR) feasibility study in August 2008. Major construction of ASR well was completed in early 2014. We are currently performing operational scale testing cycles to determine how our water system reacts with this new technology. The project withdraws water from the Columbia River during winter and early spring, stores it in a deep basalt aquifer in the Southridge area, and recovers the water to supplement peak demands during the summer months.
SOURCE WATER QUALITY/QUANTITY
As water flows over land and through subsurface, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and compounds. It can be polluted by human, industrial and other activities that requires treatment to make it safe for drinking.
Materials that can be present in water include viruses or bacteria, radioactive substances, metals, nitrates and chemicals from industrial discharges, disinfection processes or from agricultural uses. In 2016 and 2017 cryptosporidium was monitored for and detected in the raw unfiltered water sources. Cryptosporidium is a microbial parasite found in surface water throughout the U.S. The monitoring was to ensure we have adequate removal and inactivation treatment for the amount of detection. Cryptosporidium was found in 3 of 48 samples from unfiltered raw water sources. Detection of Cryptosporidium resulted in a need for increased treatment. However, based on the results of our monitoring, we only had to make minimal changes to our previously engineered processes for the continued treatment of Cryptosporidium.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected
to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline
City of Kennewick drinking water sources include the Columbia River, Ranney Collector 4 Well, and Ranney Collector 5 Well. Ranney Collector 5 is under the direct influence of ground water and is treated as surface water. Treatment consists of riverbank filtration, UV disinfection along with chlorination. The Columbia River is treated with flocculation, sedimentation, filtration through membrane filters, and chlorination. The treatment process is to ensure all pathogens have been removed. The Columbia River Water Treatment plant produced 38% of the water used by consumers. Production from the Ranney Collector Wells accounted for the remaining 62%.
PROGRAMS FOR PROTECTING WATER QUALITY
- Wellhead Protection Program to protect the City’s groundwater resources.
- Cross Connection Control Program to protect distribution system water quality.
- Chemical and Bacterial Monitoring Program to ensure treated water is safe.
- Reservoir Maintenance and Inspection Program to protect distribution system water quality.
- American Water Works Association (AWWA) Member – this is a professional group committed to helping municipalities deliver safe and reliable drinking water.
- Source Water Protection Assessment Program (SWAP) has identified potential contaminants. The Information is available online at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/ CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater/SourceWaterProtection/Assessment.aspx
WATER USE EFFICIENCY
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Washington State law requires that the City establish water use efficiency goals to assure continued efforts toward efficient use of the state’s water resources. On February 7, 2017, City Council held a public meeting and adopted Resolution No.
The City’s 2020 annual water use efficiency performance report is summarized in the following table:
Total Annual Production
Annual Water Distribution System Leakage
Water Use Efficiency Goal
4.139 billion gallons
Less than 1% of total production
Reduce the water demand per capita by 1 percent each year through 2027 resulting in an average demand per capita of 119 GPCD or lower in 2027.
The City will continue to experience continued upward pressure on the annual average per capita water demand. This upward pressure will largely be due to continued development in areas that are not provided with irrigation water by an irrigation district or private well. The City will continue to implement ongoing water use efficiency and conservation efforts to maintain annual average per capita demand below the established goal of 119 gallons per
2020 Per Capita Water |
129 gallons per day |
day in 2027. These efforts include public education, technical assistance, water system savings programs, and other water use efficiency measures described in the City Water Conservation Plan. For more information on water use efficiency, please go to: Water Use Efficiency - Office of Drinking Water, Washington State Department of Health at http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/
2020 Water Quality Testing Results
Substance |
Range of Detected |
Highest Level |
Highest Level |
|
State Reporting |
Ideal Goals |
Possible Source(s) |
Substance in 2020 |
Detected in 2020 |
Allowed (EPA’s MCL) |
|
Level (SRL) |
(EPA’s MCLGs) |
in Drinking Water |
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Microbiological |
|
|
|
|
Total Coliform |
2 of the 1090 routine |
No repeat samples |
Presence in more than 5% |
|
|
|
Naturally present in the |
samples detected |
|
Any presence |
0 |
||||
Bacteria |
detected a presence |
of monthly sample set. |
|
environment |
|||
a presence |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turbidity |
|
|
|
|
RC4 |
0.02 to 0.09 NTU |
0.09 NTU |
95% of all samples |
|
0.1 NTU |
N/A |
Soil runoff |
< 0.3 NTU |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RC5 |
0.02 to 0.09 NTU |
0.09 NTU |
95% of all samples |
|
0.1 NTU |
N/A |
Soil runoff |
< 0.1 NTU |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WTP |
0.03 to 0.09 NTU |
0.09 NTU |
95% of all samples |
|
0.1 NTU |
N/A |
Soil runoff |
< 0.1 NTU |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radioactive Substances |
|
|
|
|
Gross Alpha |
1.80 to 2.74 pCi/l |
2.74 pCi/l |
15 pCi/l |
|
Above 0 pCi/l |
0 |
Erosion of natural deposits |
Emitters |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Beta |
< 3 |
< 3 |
50 pCi/l* |
|
Above 0 pCi/l |
0 |
Decay of natural and man- |
Emitters |
|
made deposits |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
Inorganic Compounds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Erosion of natural deposits; |
Arsenic** |
0.00195 to .00218 mg/L |
0.00218 mg/L |
0.010 mg/L |
|
0.001 mg/L |
0 |
runoff from orchards; runoff |
|
from glass & electronics |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
production wastes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Erosion of natural deposits; |
Fluoride** |
0.503 ppm |
0.503 ppm |
4 ppm |
|
0.5 ppm |
4 ppm |
discharge from fertilizer & |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
aluminum factories |
Nitrate/Nitrogen |
0.8 to 4.4 ppm |
4.3 ppm |
10 ppm |
|
0.5 ppm |
10 ppm |
Runoff from fertilizer use |
|
|
|
Disinfection |
|
|
|
|
TTHM |
12.9 to 76.5 ppb |
57.8 ppb LRAA |
80 ppb LRAA |
|
0.5 ppb |
N/A |
|
HAA5 |
ND to 32.6 ppb |
20.2 ppb LRAA |
60 ppb LRAA |
|
1.0 ppb |
N/A |
water chlorination |
|
|
|
Disinfection |
|
|
|
|
Free Chlorine |
1.2 to 1.6 ppm |
1.6 ppm |
4.0 ppm |
|
N/A |
N/A |
Water additive to control |
|
microbes |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lead & Copper |
|
|
|
|
Substance |
Range of Detected |
90th Percentile |
EPA Action Level |
|
State Reporting |
Sites Exceeding |
Possible Source(s) |
Substance in 2019 |
Reported |
|
Level (SRL) |
Action Level |
|||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corrosion of household |
Lead |
ND to 0.00451 ppm |
0.0014 ppm |
0.015 ppm |
|
0.001 ppm |
0 of 30 test sites |
plumbing systems; erosion of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
natural deposits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corrosion of household |
Copper |
0.0016 to 1.18 ppm |
0.793 ppm |
1.3 ppm |
|
0.2 ppm |
0 of 30 test sites |
plumbing systems; erosion of |
|
natural deposits; leeching from |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wood preservatives |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution System |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asbestos is a mineral fiber found |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
in rocks and soil. It was once |
Asbestos |
ND to < 0.12 MFL |
< 0.12 MFL |
7 MFL |
|
0.2 MFL |
ND |
widely used in building materials |
|
& products to strengthen them |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
& provide heat insulation & fire |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
resistance. |
Note: Asbestos testing completed in 2018 met all EPA compliance levels, next testing will be in 2028. *EPA considers 50 pCi/l to be the level of concern for beta particles. ** Last Testing Completed in 2017.
DEFINITIONS
Action Level – The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers a treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
LRAA – Locational Running Annual Average
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) – The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) – The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
HAA5 – Haloacetic Acids MFL – Million fibers per liter mg/L – Milligrams per liter N/A – Not Applicable
ND – None Detected
Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) – Unit of measure used to describe water clarity. The smaller the number, the clearer the water.
pCi/l – Picocuries per liter is a standard measurement of radioactivity in the environment.
ppb – One part per billion ppm – One part per million
RC4 – Ranney Collector No. 4: Groundwater source.
RC5 – Ranney Collector No. 5: Groundwater/surface water source.
State Reporting Level (SRL) – Indicates minimum reporting level required by the Washington Department of Health.
TTHM – Total Trihalomethane
Treatment Technique – A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Turbidity – A measure of the cloudiness of water monitored to indicate filtration effectiveness.
μg/L – Micro grams per liter
WFI – Water Facilities Inventory Number (38100Q)
WTP – Water Treatment Plant: Columbia River surface water source.
Contaminants
City of Kennewick
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Washington State Department of Health, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 77347
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 19
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Arsenic
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Nitrate
- Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
Other Detected Contaminants
- Bromochloroacetic acid
- Chlorate
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Molybdenum
- Monobromoacetic acid
- Strontium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
If you have been to Kennewick, Washington and want to learn more about the water there, you may be surprised to learn that you are drinking contaminated tap water. The reason for this is because the treatment facilities there do not remove lead from their water, so instead they use a chemical known as trihalomethanes or THMs. The Environmental Protection Agency does not consider THMs to be health risks, but there are many doctors who feel otherwise.
You will also find that in addition to the THMs, there are numerous other pollutants found in Kennewick United States tap water. The water company was ordered to stop treating its water after a lawsuit was filed by a group of residents.
The reason for this is that they could not prove that the water was not safe to drink. They were using old technology that was allowing them to use chlorine as a disinfectant. Chlorine is used for disinfecting, but it is also poisonous. The National Institutes of Health foun