Health Violations Found WA 7 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

City of Kennewick

EPA ID: WA5338100 · 114,468 people served · 6 ZIP codes

Federal data shows 10 unresolved violations at City of Kennewick — roughly 114,468 residents in the service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 57
Avg Safety Score
114,468
People Served
6
ZIP Codes Served
13
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0019 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
4
Contaminants Flagged
$329K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Stable · Risk tier: High · 93% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 2 (2021) to 5 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Kennewick Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$87,361
Median Household Income
150,562
Service Area Population
30%
Disadvantaged Population
48th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
46%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Kennewick serves a community with a median household income of $87,361 and an estimated 150,562 residents across its service area. Approximately 46% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

City of Kennewick's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
17th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
53th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Benton County, Washington rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

39 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
30 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 57% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Kennewick compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 6 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects
Lead 1 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 4 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Contaminant 2959 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 32 detections recorded. 13 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 2 exceed state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.01 ppt, PFOS: 0.015 ppt, PFHxS: 0.065 ppt, PFBS: 0.345 ppt, HFPO-DA: 0.024 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Washington

City of Olympia
113,584 people
A 2 violations
City of Auburn
113,095 people
A 4 violations
Highline Water District
115,950 people
A 1 violation
B 5 violations
Pasco Water Department
116,342 people
B 13 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $500
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,400

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Property Value Decline $16,425

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$13,380
10 years
$26,760
20 years
$53,520

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,400 (one-time) vs. $26,760 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Kennewick (EPA ID: WA5338100) is a community water system in Washington that serves approximately 114,468 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 6 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (57/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

7 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 10 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
January 1, 2024 Lead Monitoring Unresolved
January 1, 2024 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Health-based Unresolved
October 1, 2023 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Monitoring Unresolved
October 1, 2023 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Health-based Unresolved
July 1, 2023 Contaminant 2959 Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2023 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Health-based Unresolved
April 1, 2023 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2023 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Health-based Unresolved
January 1, 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Health-based Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 6 Yes
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 4 Yes
Contaminant 2959 Other Violation 2 No
Lead Inorganic 1 No

Health Risk Details

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)

Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.

Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) (EPA limit: 0.08 mg/L)

Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns At-risk groups: pregnant women, long-term consumers of chlorinated water, people who frequently shower in chlorinated water.

Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, point-of-entry aeration. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
99336 0.0019 mg/L No N/A
99337 0.0019 mg/L No N/A
99338 0.0019 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your 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.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 5 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Kennewick (WA5338100) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Kennewick water safe to drink?

City of Kennewick has recorded 7 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does City of Kennewick serve?

City of Kennewick serves approximately 114,468 people across 6 ZIP codes in Washington.

Where does City of Kennewick get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(509) 585-4318
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Contact information from City of Kennewick Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Blended (groundwater + surface water)
Combines water from both groundwater and surface sources.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorine

Source: City of Kennewick Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from City of Kennewick Consumer Confidence Report:
Source Water Protection Assessment Program (SWAP) has identified potential contaminants. The Information is available online at: http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/DrinkingWater/SourceWaterProtection/Assessment.aspx

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Advanced
Advanced treatment that may include ozonation, ultraviolet disinfection, activated-carbon filtration, or membrane filtration. Used when source water has elevated contamination risk or to remove disinfection byproducts.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Kennewick Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
232
Detections
22
Latest sample
1/3/2024
Highest analyte
PFOS: 11.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 11.5 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFHxS 10.6 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFPeA 7.5 ppt
PFHxA 6.5 ppt
PFBS 6.4 ppt
PFOA 4.6 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
16.7 ppt 15 ppt Above EPA limit

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by City of Kennewick.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
24,155
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 118,164
Reported to Washington

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Notable events and violations

This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.

Federal compliance violations on record

These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).

  • public notice · PFOS
    2024-03
    PFOS level of 16.7 ppt exceeded the State Action Level of 15 ppt at Ranney Collectors.

Violations record from City of Kennewick Consumer Confidence Report.

Notable events from the utility's CCR

These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.

Notable events from City of Kennewick Consumer Confidence Report:
  • Harmful algal blooms (HABs) were detected in the Columbia River during the summer months of 2022.
  • PFAS detected at Ranney Collectors in 2022 and 2023, exceeding new EPA MCLs.

ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Kennewick safe to drink?
City of Kennewick has a C safety grade based on 13 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in City of Kennewick's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Lead, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Contaminant 2959. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 4 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Kennewick serve?
City of Kennewick serves approximately 114,468 people with drinking water across 6 ZIP codes.
What is City of Kennewick's water source?
City of Kennewick draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Kennewick's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0019 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Kennewick's service area?
The City of Kennewick service area has a median household income of $87,361. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Kennewick get its water?
City of Kennewick's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Kennewick (EPA ID: WA5338100) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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