Water System Report WA

City of Spokane

EPA ID: WA5383100 ยท 346,138 people served ยท 19 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for City of Spokane (WA5383100): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. With a five-year violation-free history, City of Spokane delivers safe water to 346,138 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS

D ยท 48
Avg Safety Score
346,138
People Served
19
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$374K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$75,254
Median Household Income
360,073
Service Area Population
32%
Disadvantaged Population
51th
Poverty Percentile
43th
Energy Burden Percentile
56%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Spokane serves a community with a median household income of $75,254 and an estimated 360,073 residents across its service area. Approximately 56% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 32% 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.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Spokane'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
28th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
75th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 75th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

50 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
22 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 69% 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. 72 detections recorded. 18 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

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 โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Washington

City of Bellevue
321,349 people
A 0 violations
City of Vancouver
373,047 people
D 0 violations
A 0 violations
Alderwood Water District
245,715 people
A 0 violations
A 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,116
PFAS Treatment $537
Total Estimated Cost $2,853

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 $2,853 (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 Spokane (EPA ID: WA5383100) is a community water system in Washington that serves approximately 346,138 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 19 ZIP codes across 8 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (48/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 11 of 19 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.002 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High 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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 Spokane (WA5383100) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Spokane water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for City of Spokane in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does City of Spokane serve?

City of Spokane serves approximately 346,138 people across 19 ZIP codes in Washington.

Where does City of Spokane get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
348
Detections
4
Latest sample
2/20/2024
Highest analyte
PFOS: 6.1 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 6.1 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFBS 3.9 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 3.5 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 3.3 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Spokane safe to drink?
City of Spokane has a D safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Spokane 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 Spokane serve?
City of Spokane serves approximately 346,138 people with drinking water across 19 ZIP codes.
What is City of Spokane's water source?
City of Spokane draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Spokane's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Spokane's service area?
The City of Spokane service area has a median household income of $75,254. EPA EJScreen data classifies 32% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Spokane get its water?
City of Spokane'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Spokane, WA: Serves 346K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/wa5383100/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-wa5383100,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{City of Spokane, WA: Serves 346K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/wa5383100/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

City of Spokane (EPA ID: WA5383100) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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