Seattle, WA EPA UCMR5 & USGS Water Report • PWSID WA0010001

Seattle, WA Tap Water Quality Report (2026): Grade A-

Direct Answer: Seattle, WA tap water (served by City of Seattle Department of Watershed Management) earns an overall A- Safety Grade (86/100). Public testing records 0.8 ppt combined PFOA/PFOS (approaches the 4.0 ppt EPA federal limit), 3.1 ppb 90th-percentile lead, and 1.4 gpg (24 mg/L — Soft) mineral hardness.
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Official Municipal Water System Filing • Population Served: 850,000

City of Seattle Department of Watershed Management

Primary Water Source: Seattle Public Utilities (Cedar & Tolt Rivers)
Covered ZIP Codes: 98101
A- Score 86/100
PFAS (PFOA + PFOS)
0.8 ppt
PFOA: 0.4 ppt • PFOS: 0.4 ppt (EPA Limit: 4.0 ppt)
Near 4.0 ppt EPA MCL
Lead (90th Percentile)
3.1 ppb
EPA Action Level: 10.0 ppb • Goal: 0 ppb
Point-of-Use RO Advised
Disinfection Byproducts
26.0 ppb TTHM
HAA5: 14.6 ppb • Free Chlorine
Catalytic Carbon Target
USGS Water Hardness
1.4 gpg
24 mg/L CaCO3 (Soft)
Soft
Best Filter Match for Seattle Homeowners: Waterdrop G3P800 under the kitchen sink for >98% PFOA/PFOS & lead reduction + Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 for whole-house chlorine & scale protection.
What This Means for Your Home

How Seattle’s Water Impacts Drinking, Skin & Appliances

1. Drinking & Cooking Water

PFAS (0.8 ppt) & Lead (3.1 ppb)

Seattle tap water earns a A- grade thanks to naturally soft Chattahoochee River water (24 mg/L / 1.4 gpg), though chlorine disinfection byproducts (26.0 ppb TTHMs) and 0.8 ppt trace PFAS near the 4.0 ppt EPA limit warrant under-sink carbon or RO filtration. Boiling tap water concentrates PFAS and lead rather than removing them. Installing an NSF/ANSI 58 tankless reverse osmosis system under your kitchen sink reduces >98% of PFOA/PFOS, lead, chromium-6, and 93.59% of dissolved solids right at the tap.

Fix Kitchen Tap: Waterdrop G3P800 →
2. Water Heater, Dishwasher & Fixtures

1.4 gpg (24 mg/L) Soft Water

At 1.4 grains per gallon, calcium and magnesium carbonate crust inside tank and tankless water heaters, cutting heating efficiency by up to 24% and leaving white chalky spots on glass shower doors and faucets.

Fix Scale: SpringWell Whole-House →
3. Shower Steam, Skin & Hair

Chlorine & 26.0 ppb TTHMs

City of Seattle Department of Watershed Management uses free chlorine to disinfect distribution mains, producing 26.0 ppb Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and 29.8 ppb Haloacetic Acids that volatilize in hot showers and dry out sensitive skin.

Compare Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 →
Engine 2 • 6-Month Cartridge Continuity

Free 6-Month Replacement Filter Reminder

Saturated carbon pre-filters allow PFAS and chlorine breakthrough after 6 months (causing membrane fouling). Pick your system below and we will email your exact OEM cartridge match when it is time to swap.

60-Second Homeowner Water Math

Why Tankless RO Beats Bottled Water & Pitchers

NSF/ANSI 53 & 58 Lab Benchmarks
Bottled Plastic Cases
$1,460/yr

$7,300 over 5 years plus 240,000 nanoplastics per liter.

Standard Carbon Pitcher
0% TDS Removed

NSF-42 carbon filters chlorine taste only, missing hard minerals.

NSF-58 Tankless RO
$0.44/day

G3P800 filter cost (~$160/yr); certified >98% PFOA/PFOS & 93.6% TDS reduction.

Engine 3 • Local Licensed Water Pros

Claim the Exclusive City Water Specialist Slot ($149/mo)

Are you a state-licensed C-36 / Master Plumber or WQA-certified water treatment installer? Lock in the single Featured Local Installer spot on your city's tap water report page for $149/month flat—zero per-lead bidding wars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Seattle, WA tap water safe to drink in 2026?

Seattle tap water earns a A- grade on CleanWaterGrade. While it meets baseline utility standards, testing shows 0.8 ppt combined PFOA/PFOS (vs the 4.0 ppt EPA limit), 3.1 ppb 90th-percentile lead, and 1.4 gpg (24 mg/L) hardness.

How hard is the water in Seattle, WA?

Seattle water hardness averages 1.4 grains per gallon (24 mg/L), classified by the USGS as Soft.

What is the best water filter for Seattle, WA?

For drinking and cooking in Seattle, an NSF-58 under-sink reverse osmosis system like the Waterdrop G3P800 reduces >98% of PFOA/PFOS, lead, and 93.59% of TDS. For whole-home scale and disinfectant protection, the Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000 is matched to Seattle water chemistry.

See Top NSF-58 Filters Matched to Your Water →