Monitoring Issues SCHOOL DISTRICT PFAS DETECTED

PFAS Detected in Seattle Public Schools (WA)

34 ZIP codes · 15 water systems · 1,312,520 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Seattle Public Schools: 1 EPA violation recorded in the past five years.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

A · 99
Avg Safety Score (30 ZIP)
34
ZIP Codes
15
Water Systems
1
Violations (5yr) (32 ZIP)
0.0016 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
2
ZIPs with PFAS
Zone 3
Radon Risk (34 ZIP)

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The Seattle Public Schools in Washington spans 34 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 30 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 32 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 1,312,520 across 4 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

The average Home Safety Score under model 4.0.0 across 30 scored ZIP records is A (99/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 83/100 .

Water quality in this district ranks better than 93% of ZIP codes nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average lead level (90th percentile) 0.0016 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.002 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 32 with known status -

PFAS Contamination

PFAS ("forever chemicals") detected in 2 ZIP records in this district. The aggregate does not treat ZIP records without PFAS evidence as tested negatives.

Detected compounds: PFBS, PFOS.

Highest measured level: 0.005 µg/L.

PFAS can accumulate in the body over time. Children's higher water intake relative to body weight makes them particularly susceptible. Reverse osmosis filters (NSF/ANSI 58) are the most effective at removing PFAS.

Learn more about PFAS in drinking water →

EPA Violation History

1 monitoring/reporting violation recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 1 No 1

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low risk)

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
98168 Seattle A (100) 1 0 0.0019 mg/L No
98033 Kirkland B (83) 0 0 0.002 mg/L No
98101 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98102 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98103 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98104 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98105 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98106 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98107 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98108 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98109 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98112 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98115 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98116 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98117 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98118 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98119 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98121 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98122 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98125 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98126 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98133 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98134 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98136 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98144 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98146 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98155 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98174 Seattle N/A 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98177 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98178 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0019 mg/L No
98195 Seattle N/A 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98199 Seattle A (100) 0 0 0.0016 mg/L No
98154 Seattle N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
98164 Seattle N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Address PFAS - If PFAS are detected in your area, a reverse osmosis or activated carbon block filter rated NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 can reduce levels significantly.
  5. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  6. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Seattle Public Schools schools?

EPA system-level records show no health-based violations across 32 ZIP records with known health counts in the past 5 years. No lead action-level exceedance is recorded among 32 ZIP records with known status. This does not establish safety at an individual school tap; request current building-level testing results.

Does Seattle Public Schools test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Are there PFAS in Seattle Public Schools water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in 2 ZIP records associated with this district. ZIP records without PFAS evidence are not counted as tested negatives. PFAS are "forever chemicals" that do not break down and can accumulate in the body. The EPA has set maximum contaminant levels for certain PFAS compounds.

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → Washington → Seattle Public Schools

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). PFAS Detected in Seattle Public Schools (WA). https://zipcheckup.com/schools/seattle-public-schools-wa/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-schools-seattle-public-schools-wa,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{PFAS Detected in Seattle Public Schools (WA)}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/seattle-public-schools-wa/}
}
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