Is Seattle tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Seattle's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

85/100
Purity Score
1
Issues Found
0.8 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

1 Issue Detected in Seattle

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.1 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Seattle
Washington

981,019,810,298,103 · Cedar River and South Fork Tolt River watersheds

Seattle, WA Water Quality Report

Low Risk Updated March 2026 750,000 residents
See Best Filters for Seattle
85
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
1 ppb
Nitrate
0.3 mg/L
Arsenic
0.1 mg/L
Hardness
0.8 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Seattle's water meets current EPA standards. Filtration can improve taste and provide extra safety.

Score

85 /100
Excellent
"Good" threshold (70)

Seattle tap water is sourced from Cedar River and South Fork Tolt River watersheds and treated by Seattle Public Utilities. Overall purity score: 85/100 (Excellent). Updated for 2026.

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Best filters matched to Seattle's 1 issue.

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Lead in SeattleLead risk
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Seattle Water FAQ

Is Seattle WA tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Seattle tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 85/100 (Excellent) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Seattle WA use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Seattle uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 0.7 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Seattle WA water and what is the TDS level?
Seattle water hardness is 0.8 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 22 ppm (excellent). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Seattle WA drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Seattle drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Seattle?
Based on Seattle's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Seattle water scores well overall. A pitcher filter provides extra precaution and improves taste for drinking and cooking.

Nearby Reports

BellinghamWashington — 85/100SpokaneWashington — 85/100TacomaWashington — 85/100VancouverWashington — 85/100BellevueWashington — 85/100KentWashington — 85/100

All Washington cities

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Seattle Public Utilities CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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