Public water system · WA5314100
ActiveColton Water Department
At a glance
Colton Water Department (PWSID WA5314100) is an active community water system in Whitman County, Washington. It reports serving 632 people through 203 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
632
Service connections
203
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Colton Water Department compare with other water systems in Whitman County?
By EPA's size categories, Colton Water Department is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Whitman County has 33 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 2,055 people per system, and accounts for 0.9% of the 67,820 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Washington, the 4,705 active systems average 2,172 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Colton Water Department is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Washington has 2,392 active community water systems, 51% of the state's 4,705 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 4,370 Washington systems (93%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Colton Water Department?
EPA lists Colton Water Department as owned by a local government. The WA state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 23 of the 33 active systems in Whitman County (70%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Colton Water Department have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018. The violations listed here began between January 2008 and January 2018. By type: 9 monitoring and reporting and 3 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Consumer Confidence Rule (3 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Toxaphenecode 2020 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Hexachlorobenzenecode 2274 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Endrincode 2005 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)code 2110 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Dinosebcode 2041 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Picloramcode 2040 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Colton Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Colton Water Department?
Colton Water Department (PWSID WA5314100) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the WA state drinking water program.
How many people does Colton Water Department serve?
Colton Water Department reports serving 632 people through 203 service connections in Whitman County, Washington.
Where does Colton Water Department get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Colton Water Department have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Colton Water Department's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2018. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the WA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Colton Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Colton Water Department must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Whitman County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pullman Water Department City of | Whitman | 31,315 | Community | Groundwater |
| Washington State University | Whitman | 21,506 | Community | Groundwater |
| Colfax Water Department City of | Whitman | 3,507 | Community | Groundwater |
| Palouse Water Dept City of | Whitman | 1,298 | Community | Groundwater |
| Tekoa City of | Whitman | 1,076 | Community | Groundwater |
| Horn School Rest Area | Whitman | 833 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Colton Water Department, PWSID WA5314100, Washington”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/washington/colton-water-department-wa5314100 (data as of October 1, 2026).