Monitoring Violations WA

King County Water District #20

EPA ID: WA5338950 · 38,974 people served · 62 ZIP codes

While 1 violation did appear in King County Water District #20's five-year monitoring record, none remain unresolved — the utility has returned to full compliance and continues to serve approximately 38,974 residents under all current EPA drinking water standards.

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

A · 95
Avg Safety Score
38,974
People Served
62
ZIP Codes Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0035 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
1
Contaminants Flagged
$791K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for King County Water District #20 Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$114,213
Median Household Income
994,393
Service Area Population
12%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
10th
Energy Burden Percentile
63%
Pre-1986 Housing

The King County Water District #20 serves a community with a median household income of $114,213 and an estimated 994,393 residents across its service area. Approximately 63% 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

King County Water District #20'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
69th
Superfund Site Proximity

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

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 69th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

50 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Unknown
Pipe Material
17 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 75% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How King County Water District #20 compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 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. 2 detections recorded.

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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Washington

City of Puyallup
39,100 people
A 6 violations
Firgrove Mutual Inc.
36,168 people
A 6 violations
0 violations
A 4 violations
C 10 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,316
PFAS Treatment $31
Total Estimated Cost $1,347

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 $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,347 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

King County Water District #20 (EPA ID: WA5338950) is a community water system in Washington that serves approximately 38,974 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 62 ZIP codes across 1 community.

Average Home Safety Score: A (95/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2024 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
98148 0.0035 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

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: 6 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 56 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

This system serves 62 ZIP codes:

98101 · 98102 · 98103 · 98104 · 98105 98106 · 98107 · 98108 · 98109 · 98111 98112 · 98113 · 98114 · 98115 · 98116 98117 · 98118 · 98119 · 98121 · 98122 98124 · 98125 · 98126 · 98127 · 98129 98131 · 98132 · 98133 · 98134 · 98136 98138 · 98139 · 98141 · 98144 · 98145 98146 · 98148 · 98154 · 98155 · 98158 98160 · 98161 · 98164 · 98165 · 98166 98168 · 98170 · 98171 · 98174 · 98175 98177 · 98178 · 98181 · 98185 · 98188 98189 · 98190 · 98191 · 98194 · 98195 98198 · 98199

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for King County Water District #20 (WA5338950) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is King County Water District #20 water safe to drink?

King County Water District #20 has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does King County Water District #20 serve?

King County Water District #20 serves approximately 38,974 people across 62 ZIP codes in Washington.

Where does King County Water District #20 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
(206) 243-3990
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.
Address
12606 1st Ave S Burien, WA 98168-2617

Contact information from King County Water District 20 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
Purchased from another utility
Treated water purchased wholesale from another water system.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorine

Source: King County Water District 20 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 King County Water District 20 Consumer Confidence Report:
Washington's SWAP, conducted by the Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water, gives all surface waters in Washington a susceptibility rating of 'high' regardless of contaminant detection.

Treatment regime

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

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

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

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

AgricultureIndustrial activity

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from King County Water District 20 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: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

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 →

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
141
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
10,607
Confirmed Non-Lead

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
Population served: 38,974
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 →

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 King County Water District #20 safe to drink?
King County Water District #20 earns a A safety grade with 1 violation in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in King County Water District #20's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant 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 King County Water District #20 serve?
King County Water District #20 serves approximately 38,974 people with drinking water across 62 ZIP codes.
What is King County Water District #20's water source?
King County Water District #20 draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in King County Water District #20's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0035 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of King County Water District #20's service area?
The King County Water District #20 service area has a median household income of $114,213. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does King County Water District #20 get its water?
King County Water District #20'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

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

King County Water District #20 (EPA ID: WA5338950) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems Washington King County Water District #20

Get safety alerts for King County Water District #20, Washington

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Violations found — check filter options Free tool — no phone call required.