Water System Report WA

City of Richland

EPA ID: WA5372250 · 106,248 people served · 4 ZIP codes

EPA data: City of Richland — zero violations, five years, 106,248 served.

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

B · 78
Avg Safety Score
106,248
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0024 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$425K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 4 (2022) to 2 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$106,439
Median Household Income
100,155
Service Area Population
31%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
40%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Richland serves a community with a median household income of $106,439 and an estimated 100,155 residents across its service area. Approximately 40% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 31% 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?

Surface Water

City of Richland'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
60th
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.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

34 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
35 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 49% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 22 detections recorded. 7 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 4 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Washington

City of Renton
107,119 people
A 2 violations
B 0 violations
Lacey Water Department
103,755 people
A 2 violations
B 2 violations
B 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,500
PFAS Treatment $450
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $150
Total Estimated Cost $2,500

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:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,500 (one-time) vs. $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 Richland (EPA ID: WA5372250) is a community water system in Washington that serves approximately 106,248 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (78/100)

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

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
99352 0.0024 mg/L No N/A
99354 0.0024 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 Richland (WA5372250) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Richland water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, City of Richland has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does City of Richland serve?

City of Richland serves approximately 106,248 people across 4 ZIP codes in Washington.

Where does City of Richland 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
509-967-5434
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
Public Works Department, 3100 Belmont Blvd, Suite 102, West Richland, WA 99353

Contact information from City of West Richland 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.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorine

Source: City of West Richland Consumer Confidence Report.

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

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

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of West Richland 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
290
Detections
14
Latest sample
3/27/2023
Highest analyte
PFOS: 17 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 17 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOA 10.1 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFPeA 14.5 ppt
PFHxA 11.6 ppt
PFBS 8.9 ppt
PFBA 6.6 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 →

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.

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 West Richland Consumer Confidence Report:
  • EPA Fluoride SMCL Exceedance Notice: Elevated fluoride levels detected at two of the City's wells.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Richland safe to drink?
City of Richland earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Richland meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Richland serve?
City of Richland serves approximately 106,248 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is City of Richland's water source?
City of Richland draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Richland's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0024 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Richland's service area?
The City of Richland service area has a median household income of $106,439. EPA EJScreen data classifies 31% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Richland get its water?
City of Richland'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.
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