Public water system · WA5308253
ActiveThe Buttes
At a glance
The Buttes (PWSID WA5308253) is an active community water system in Pierce County, Washington. It reports serving 973 people through 376 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
973
Service connections
376
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does The Buttes compare with other water systems in Pierce County?
By EPA's size categories, The Buttes is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Pierce County has 358 active public water systems. Its population served is well below the county average of 3,335 people per system, and accounts for less than 0.1% 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 The Buttes 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 The Buttes?
EPA lists The Buttes 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 The Buttes have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in July 2015. The violations listed here began between July 2013 and July 2015. By type: 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Consumer Confidence Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 2 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 |
| 2013-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
All 2 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.
The Buttes: frequently asked questions
Who runs The Buttes?
The Buttes (PWSID WA5308253) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the WA state drinking water program.
How many people does The Buttes serve?
The Buttes reports serving 973 people through 376 service connections in Pierce County, Washington.
Where does The Buttes 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 The Buttes have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; none is 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 The Buttes' 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. EPA's records list 2 violations for this system; none is 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 The Buttes' water quality report?
As a community water system, The Buttes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Water Division City of | Pierce | 446,170 | Community | Surface water |
| 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 |
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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, “The Buttes, PWSID WA5308253, Washington”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/washington/the-buttes-wa5308253 (data as of October 1, 2026).