Monitoring Violations WA

City of Moses Lake

EPA ID: WA5356300 · 32,428 people served · 3 ZIP codes

While corrective steps may be in progress, City of Moses Lake currently shows 2 EPA violations unresolved — serving a population of approximately 32,428.

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

B · 72
Avg Safety Score
32,428
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
16
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0032 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
5
Contaminants Flagged
$290K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$77,361
Median Household Income
73,074
Service Area Population
63%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
52%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Moses Lake serves a community with a median household income of $77,361 and an estimated 73,074 residents across its service area. Approximately 52% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 63% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Moses Lake's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Grant 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

41 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
29 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 59% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Moses Lake compares to EPA limits

Lead 2 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults
Nickel 1 mg/L (secondary standard: 2.0 mg/L) (25% of limit)
0 EPA Limit: 4 mg/L (secondary standard: 2.0 mg/L)
Tooth & bone damage at high levels

What This Means For You

Lead at 2 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.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 7 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Total Organic Carbon at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Surface Water Treatment Rule 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. 5 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds 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 →

Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Washington

Spanaway Water Company
31,908 people
A 3 violations
C 2 violations
City of Bothell Water
33,643 people
B 4 violations
City of Edmonds
34,023 people
A 1 violation
City of Mercer Island
30,689 people
A 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,000
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $200
Total Estimated Cost $1,600

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 $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,600 (one-time) vs. $15,330 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

City of Moses Lake (EPA ID: WA5356300) is a community water system in Washington that serves approximately 32,428 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (72/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
May 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Total Organic Carbon Monitoring Unresolved
June 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2023 Total Organic Carbon Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 7 No
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 4 No
Lead Inorganic 2 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Nickel Inorganic 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
98837 0.0032 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: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by WA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Moses Lake (WA5356300) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Moses Lake water safe to drink?

City of Moses Lake has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does City of Moses Lake serve?

City of Moses Lake serves approximately 32,428 people across 3 ZIP codes in Washington.

Where does City of Moses Lake get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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
509-764-3951
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 Moses Lake 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
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.

Source: City of Moses Lake Consumer Confidence Report.

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

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
1044
Detections
10
Latest sample
5/7/2024
Highest analyte
PFHxS: 54.1 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxS 54.1 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOS 52.2 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFHxA 7.3 ppt
PFPeS 5.3 ppt
PFBS 4.4 ppt

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
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
4.53 ppt 4 ppt Above EPA limit
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
3.32 ppt 4 ppt Below EPA limit
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
2.47 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Component of EPA Hazard Index — combined exposure assessed against unitless threshold of 1.0.
2.35 ppt No federal limit set
PFPeA
Not yet EPA-regulated
3.39 ppt No federal limit set
PFPxA
Not yet EPA-regulated
Not disclosed No federal limit set

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 Moses Lake.

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
11,328
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 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 32,428
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 →

Aesthetic water quality

These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.

pH
8
How acidic or basic the water is on a 0-14 scale. Drinking water is typically near neutral.
EPA secondary range: 6.5 – 8.5
Fluoride
1.92 ppm
Utility does not add fluoride
Measured fluoride concentration in parts per million.
EPA secondary MCL: 2.0 ppm

Aesthetic measurements from City of Moses Lake Consumer Confidence Report.

Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.

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).

  • SMCL · Fluoride
    Date not published
    Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) of 2 mg/L for fluoride exceeded.

Violations record from City of Moses Lake Consumer Confidence Report.

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 Moses Lake safe to drink?
City of Moses Lake earns a B safety grade with 16 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in City of Moses Lake's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Total Organic Carbon, 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 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 Moses Lake serve?
City of Moses Lake serves approximately 32,428 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is City of Moses Lake's water source?
City of Moses Lake draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Moses Lake's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0032 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Moses Lake's service area?
The City of Moses Lake service area has a median household income of $77,361. EPA EJScreen data classifies 63% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Moses Lake get its water?
City of Moses Lake's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. 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 Moses Lake (EPA ID: WA5356300) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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