Is Auburn, WA tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Lakehaven Water and Sewer District. 6 PFAS were detected below the limits.

6 public water systems serve parts of Auburn. The largest, Lakehaven Water and Sewer District, serves 148,809 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Lakehaven Water and Sewer District

148,809 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID WA5341997

Buys treated water from Highline Water District, City of Tacoma Water Division.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS One sample above limit	2.05 ppt	4 ppt	One sample above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	5.8 ppt	10 ppt	Detected, below limit
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 3.3 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Lakehaven Water and Sewer District results

Across Washington, 20 of 245 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 17 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Washington results.

Auburn homes and lead pipes

33%

of homes built before 1980 (Washington 43%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (Washington 14%)

39%

of households rent (Washington 36%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Auburn city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Auburn
City of Auburn 107,655 people	98002, 98092
Lakehaven Water and Sewer District 148,809 people	98001

Other water systems serving Auburn

City of Auburn
107,655 people · Groundwater · Washington · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
Highline Water District
100,170 people · Purchased surface water · Washington · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits
Covington Water District
56,172 people · Purchased surface water · Washington · reported ZIPs here
PFOS above limitAlso: PFHxS detected
Lake Meridian Water District
24,231 people · Purchased surface water · Washington · reported ZIPs here
Lithium above screening level
Muckleshoot Water System
3,250 people · Groundwater · Washington · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Kent 6 mi Kent Water Department	Kent Water Department	None above limits	0 ppb
Federal Way 6 mi Lakehaven Water and Sewer District	Lakehaven Water and Sewer District	None above limits	3.3 ppb
Des Moines 8 mi Highline Water District	Highline Water District	None above limits	1.4 ppb
Puyallup 9 mi City of Puyallup	City of Puyallup	None above limits	2.7 ppb
Renton 12 mi City of Renton	City of Renton	None above limits	1.9 ppb
Tacoma 12 mi City of Tacoma Water Division	City of Tacoma Water Division	None above limits	0 ppb

Questions

Is Auburn tap water safe to drink?

Lakehaven Water and Sewer District has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Auburn, WA?

6 public water systems serve parts of Auburn. The largest is Lakehaven Water and Sewer District (148,809 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Auburn tap water have PFAS?

Lakehaven Water and Sewer District had 6 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do Auburn homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 33% of Auburn homes as built before 1980 (Washington: 43%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Lakehaven Water and Sewer District's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.