ZipCheckup grade for 98446: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

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Water Quality Report
B 82

Tacoma, WA (98446): PFAS Detected in Mapped Water Systems - 82/100

EPA data combined for 10 water systems mapped to this ZIP (largest mapped system: Spanaway Water Company)

PFAS Detected

EPA records for the water systems mapped to 98446 in Tacoma, WA contain 6 recorded violations for inclusive record years 2021 through 2026, all mapped systems combined; 0 are marked health-based.

Data source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SDWIS

Based on EPA Drinking Water FEMA Flood Data U.S. Census CDC Energy Information Admin. USGS Water Data & 9 more federal sources
Latest air quality, EPA records and weather alerts Current data temporarily unavailable
Current EPA violation data unavailable
Water records and current conditions
Current EPA violation data unavailable
Safety Score
B 82/100
Water Quality PFAS above MCL 6 non-health-based violation records in EPA data
Lead Risk Below action level 0.0024 mg/L, 90th percentile, sample period ending 2025-12-31
NFIP Claim History Claim records 14 claims
Data confidence: High (direct measurement) Medium (sampled / sub-geography) Low (modeled / inferred) Methodology →

At a Glance

  • Water EPA records for water systems mapped to this ZIP show 6 violations (non-health) (since 2021).
  • Lead The reported 90th-percentile lead result of 0.0024 mg/L is below the EPA action level for water systems; EPA's health goal for lead is zero.
  • PFAS At least one PFAS result is above an EPA MCL value (UCMR5 sampling; MCL compliance required from 2029).
  • Radon EPA Zone 3 - county-level radon potential, not evidence of a low home result.
  • Flood 14 cumulative NFIP claim records. Claim evidence is historical, not current map coverage.
Contaminant Summary
Violations on record (not health-based)
6 violations PFAS detected
Report data assembled: Jul 27, 2026 EPA water-system identity: source date or period is not present in ZipCheckup's accepted source record EPA violation history: more than two update cycles old Lead, copper and UCMR measurements: source date or period is not present in ZipCheckup's accepted source record
B
ZIP-level Home Safety model score: 82 / 100
Home Safety Score higher than 64% of ZIP codes nationwide
10
Water Systems
34,506
People Served
0
Health Violations (since 2021)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0024 mg/L
Reported Lead Result
Zone 3
County Radon Potential · Low
$460K
Median Home ValueState median: $421K

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Score Breakdown

Overall Home Safety Score: 82/100

This is the published model score. Component and domain values are shown independently; they are not added together on this page.

Canonical components

EPA water compliance
92/100
Observed
PFAS MCL screen
0/100
Observed
EPA radon zone
100/100
Observed
Annual EPA AirData AQI
100/100
Observed

Required domains

Drinking water
46/100
Indoor environment
100/100
Outdoor environment
100/100

Coverage: 4 of 4 components and 3 of 3 domains observed.

Model 4.0.0; series home-safety-v4-cross-vertical.

Safety & Health (7) HIGH

Your Water System

ZIP code 98446 in Tacoma, Washington is mapped to the water system Spanaway Water Company (EPA ID: WA5382850). This system provides water to approximately 34,506 people from groundwater sources.

There are 10 community water systems serving this area.

Lead & Copper in Your Water

The EPA requires water systems to monitor lead and copper levels under the Lead and Copper Rule.

Metal Measured Level EPA Action Level Status Sample Date or Period
Copper Action-level exceedance on record 1.3 mg/L Exceeds action level Not present in ZipCheckup accepted source data
How to read the copper row. EPA's reporting schema defines the copper CU90 code as an action-level exceedance (a system's 90th-percentile copper above the 1.3 mg/L action level), so this row reflects an exceedance on record, not a routine measurement. No copper concentration is shown because no verified unit is available for this value. A system with no copper record has not been shown to be clean: the absence of a recorded exceedance is not a measurement.

Water Systems Serving This Area

System Name EPA ID Population Source
Spanaway Water Company WA5382850 34,506 Groundwater
City of Tacoma Water Division WA5386800 446,170 Surface water
Summit Water & Supply Company WA5385050 19,125 Groundwater
Parkland Light & Water Company WA5366200 33,775 Groundwater
Southwood WA5382844 64,155 Surface water

Other Water Quality Reports in Washington

Nearby Water Quality Reports

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View available EPA compliance records for Spanaway Water Company (WA5382850) on EPA.gov.

4 of the top compounds applied across the surrounding county in USGS pesticide-use estimates appear on EPA drinking-water monitoring lists. See the agricultural pesticide-use section.

📊 EPA Safe Drinking Water · View source →

PFAS Contamination Detected

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with ZIP code 98446. One or more compound results are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL with compliance required from 2029.

Detected compounds: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFOS, PFBS, PFOA, PFHxS.

Highest measured level: 0.11 µg/L

Reverse osmosis (RO) and activated carbon block filters can reduce PFAS at the tap. Certifications list the compounds covered: an NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 claim for PFOA/PFOS does not cover every PFAS, so check that the product lists the compounds detected here.

📊 EPA UCMR5 · View source →
Environmental Hazards (11) HIGH
Home & Infrastructure (7) OK
Cost & Community (9) HIGH

CPSC product recall notices

These national notices are not matched to this ZIP code or water system.

View all recalls →

📊 CPSC · View source →

Protect Your Home in Tacoma

Based on local data for ZIP 98446, these services may benefit homeowners in your area.

Based on local data for your area. Use the tools below to explore your options.

Home & Flood Insurance

The ZIP code for this report in Tacoma has 14 FEMA flood claims on record. Standard homeowner policies don't cover flood damage - make sure you're protected.

Typical cost: Flood insurance: premiums vary by property and flood zone; request a quote

Check Your Flood Zone (Free)

FEMA flood map lookup - see if your property is in a flood zone

Free tip: Check your FEMA flood zone at msc.fema.gov (free lookup)

Service recommendations are based on public data for this ZIP code (FEMA, Census ACS, NWS). Actual needs vary by property. By calling, your information will be shared with an independent service provider. ZipCheckup may receive compensation. Cost estimates are approximate and vary by property, condition, and contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water in 98446 safe to drink?

EPA SDWIS records 6 violations since 2021 across the water systems mapped to ZIP 98446 (primary system: Spanaway Water Company), including 0 health-based. The violation table above shows which system each record belongs to. ZipCheckup last updated this page in July 2026. The federal source release date is unavailable, so that month is not presented as source currency.

Where does 98446's water come from?

The recorded water source for Spanaway Water Company, a system mapped to ZIP code 98446, is Groundwater. This system serves approximately 34,506 people.

How does Tacoma water compare to the national average?

Tacoma's Home Safety Score ranks better than 64% of U.S. ZIP codes, and lower than 72% of ZIP codes within Washington.

How can I get my water tested in Tacoma?

If Spanaway Water Company supplies your home, contact it for its Consumer Confidence Report; otherwise contact the water utility that serves your address, or hire a certified lab for independent home water testing. The EPA recommends annual testing if you use a private well.

Is lead a concern in 98446 tap water?

The Lead and Copper Rule record selected for 98446 reports a 90th-percentile lead result of 0.0024 mg/L for a water system mapped to this ZIP (record date 2025-12-31). The EPA action level is 0.015 mg/L. This result is below the EPA action level; it does not show the lead level in each home.

What is the radon risk for 98446?

98446 is mapped to a county in EPA Radon Zone 3 (low county-level radon potential; EPA recommends testing every home), located in Pierce County. EPA radon zones range from Zone 1 (highest county-level potential) to Zone 3 (lowest). Testing your home is recommended regardless of zone.

Are there PFAS (forever chemicals) in 98446's water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in samples from water systems mapped to 98446. One or more PFAS results are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL with compliance required from 2029. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 specifically for PFOA/PFOS reduction can reduce PFAS.

What does the NFIP claim history show for ZIP 98446?

FEMA records contain 14 flood insurance claims filed in ZIP code 98446; the recorded rated-zone value (the most frequent one if there are several claims) is A01, which is claims evidence and may differ from the current FEMA map zone for a property. Claim records do not establish current property risk. Review FEMA's map for the specific property.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Tacoma, WA (98446): PFAS Detected in Mapped Water Systems - 82/100. https://zipcheckup.com/report/98446/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-report-98446,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Tacoma, WA (98446): PFAS Detected in Mapped Water Systems - 82/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/report/98446/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

Nearby ZIP Code Reports

Water quality comparison for ZIP codes near 98446

ZIP Code City, State Distance Grade Violations
98445 Tacoma, WA 1.7 mi B 6
98373 Puyallup, WA 2.4 mi B 7
98442 Tacoma, WA 2.8 mi N/A 0
98375 Puyallup, WA 2.9 mi B 10
98447 Tacoma, WA 3.5 mi N/A 2
98387 Spanaway, WA 3.9 mi B 20
98444 Tacoma, WA 4.1 mi B 2
98374 Puyallup, WA 5.2 mi B 12
98443 Tacoma, WA 5.2 mi A 0
98371 Puyallup, WA 5.6 mi B 11

Contaminants Detected in 98446

Learn more about the contaminants found in your water supply:

Overall safety breakdown

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