Water Quality in Washington, DC: 33 Violations Recorded for Mapped Water Systems
2 water systems · 34 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 33 violations across 34 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Washington. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Washington
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20032 | 33 | 3 | View report → |
| 20001 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20002 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20003 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20004 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20005 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20006 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20007 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20008 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20009 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20010 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20011 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20012 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20015 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
| 20016 | 4 | 0 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
Washington, District of Columbia has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 34 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 33 violations, including 3 health-based violations across 34 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Washington is 0.0020 mg/L; the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to a water system's own 90th-percentile result and is not a safety threshold (EPA's health goal for lead is zero). No exceedances appear among the 34 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 73% of homes built before 1986, Washington has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving Washington
Washington is served by 2 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 671,768 people live in the area (274 ZIP codes, Census); this is not the systems' reported service population.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
EPA records list enforcement actions against water systems serving Washington. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Washington
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Washington Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Washington's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 76 | 34 | Yes |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | N/A | 4 | 1 | No |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 10 mg/L | 3 | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 2 | 1 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | N/A | 2 | 1 | No |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 1 mg/L | 1 | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.06 mg/L | 1 | 1 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.08 mg/L | 1 | 1 | No |
The standard column shows the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) except for lead and copper, whose value is an action level that triggers corrective steps and is not an MCL. Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL and treatment-technique violations.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year health-based EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Washington (this history covers health-based records only):
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Health-based violation counts have remained stable over the observed period.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems serving Washington. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | EPA Order Action |
| 2026-03-17 | EPA Order Action |
| 2026-02-27 | EPA Formal Action |
| 2025-12-12 | EPA Order Action |
| 2025-11-13 | EPA Order Action |
| 2025-11-12 | EPA Formal Action |
| 2025-11-04 | EPA Order Action |
| 2024-12-19 | EPA Order Action |
| 2024-12-18 | EPA Formal Action |
| 2024-10-16 | EPA Order Action |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-03-24.
Washington vs. Nearby District of Columbia Cities
How Washington's water quality compares to similar cities in District of Columbia:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 34 | 33 | 2 | 671,768 |
| Washington Navy Yard | 1 | 4 | 1 | 632,323 |
| Naval Anacost Annex | 1 | 4 | 1 | 311 |
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Washington
EPA coverage and recorded violations can differ across Washington's ZIP codes. Missing counts are shown as unavailable, not zero:
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 20032 | 33 | 3 |
| 20001 | 4 | 0 |
| 20002 | 4 | 0 |
| 20003 | 4 | 0 |
| 20004 | 4 | 0 |
| 20005 | 4 | 0 |
| 20006 | 4 | 0 |
| 20007 | 4 | 0 |
| 20008 | 4 | 0 |
| 20009 | 4 | 0 |
| 20010 | 4 | 0 |
| 20011 | 4 | 0 |
| 20012 | 4 | 0 |
| 20015 | 4 | 0 |
| 20016 | 4 | 0 |
Common Questions About Washington Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Washington, District of Columbia:
Is Washington water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Washington's 2 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Washington tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 3 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Washington? A NSF/ANSI 53-certified filter for lead removal is a good general choice. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Washington vs. District of Columbia Average
Understanding how Washington compares to the broader District of Columbia average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Washington.
ZIP Codes in Washington
Washington spans 274 ZIP codes. EPA water-system coverage is available for 34 directly mapped ZIP codes. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.