Public water system · WA5349150
ActiveLynden Water Department
At a glance
Lynden Water Department (PWSID WA5349150) is an active community water system in Whatcom County, Washington. It reports serving 20,062 people through 6,847 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 11 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
20,062
Service connections
6,847
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Lynden Water Department compare with other water systems in Whatcom County?
By EPA's size categories, Lynden Water Department is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Whatcom County has 183 active public water systems, and Lynden Water Department is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 14 times the county average of 1,437 people per system, and accounts for 7.6% of the 263,011 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 Lynden Water Department is about 199% above 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. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 140 Washington systems (3%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Lynden Water Department?
EPA lists Lynden 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. 28 of the 183 active systems in Whatcom County (15%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Lynden Water Department have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 11 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between July 2007 and July 2025. By type: 10 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 monitoring and reporting and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Nitrate (10 of them). EPA lists 10 as archived and 2 as resolved. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-12-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 2009-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 2009-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 2009-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 2009-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 2008-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 2008-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 2008-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 2007-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
| 2007-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Archived |
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.
Lynden Water Department: frequently asked questions
Who runs Lynden Water Department?
Lynden Water Department (PWSID WA5349150) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the WA state drinking water program.
How many people does Lynden Water Department serve?
Lynden Water Department reports serving 20,062 people through 6,847 service connections in Whatcom County, Washington.
Where does Lynden Water Department get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Lynden Water Department have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 11 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. 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 Lynden 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, 11 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the WA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Lynden Water Department's water quality report?
As a community water system, Lynden 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 Whatcom County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham-Water Division City of | Whatcom | 141,127 | Community | Surface water |
| Ferndale | Whatcom | 19,305 | Community | Groundwater |
| Lwwsd - South Shore Water System | Whatcom | 10,028 | Community | Surface water |
| Birch Bay Water & Sewer District | Whatcom | 9,046 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Blaine City of | Whatcom | 6,319 | Community | Groundwater |
| Everson City of | Whatcom | 3,893 | 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, “Lynden Water Department, PWSID WA5349150, Washington”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/washington/lynden-water-department-wa5349150 (data as of October 1, 2026).