Public water system · WA5386800
ActiveTacoma Water Division City of
At a glance
City of Tacoma Water Division (PWSID WA5386800) is an active community water system in Pierce County, Washington. It reports serving 446,170 people through 155,577 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, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
446,170
Service connections
155,577
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Tacoma Water Division compare with other water systems in Pierce County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Tacoma Water Division is a very large system (more than 100,000 people). Pierce County has 358 active public water systems, and City of Tacoma Water Division is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 134 times the county average of 3,335 people per system, and accounts for 37% of the 1,193,797 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 City of Tacoma Water Division is about 67 times 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 City of Tacoma Water Division?
EPA lists City of Tacoma Water Division 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. 74 of the 358 active systems in Pierce County (21%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Tacoma Water Division have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. The violations listed here began between July 2010 and July 2015. By type: 9 required treatment not met and 3 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Surface Water Treatment Rule (9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-11-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-11-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-10-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-09-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-06-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-05-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | 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.
City of Tacoma Water Division: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Tacoma Water Division?
City of Tacoma Water Division (PWSID WA5386800) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the WA state drinking water program.
How many people does City of Tacoma Water Division serve?
City of Tacoma Water Division reports serving 446,170 people through 155,577 service connections in Pierce County, Washington.
Where does City of Tacoma Water Division 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 City of Tacoma Water Division have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. 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 City of Tacoma Water Division'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, 9 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the WA state drinking water program.
Where can I find City of Tacoma Water Division's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Tacoma Water Division 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 Pierce County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puyallup City of | Pierce | 94,520 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Lakewood Water District | Pierce | 82,425 | Community | Groundwater |
| Southwood | Pierce | 64,155 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Bonney Lake Water Department City | Pierce | 43,371 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Firgrove Mutual Inc. | Pierce | 36,168 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Jblm Lewis | Pierce | 35,414 | 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, “Tacoma Water Division City of, PWSID WA5386800, Washington”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/washington/tacoma-water-division-city-of-wa5386800 (data as of October 1, 2026).