Is Pullman, WA tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of Pullman Water Department.
City of Pullman Water Department supplies Pullman (31,315 people).
Water system
City of Pullman Water Department
31,315 people · Groundwater · EPA ID WA5369880
Buys treated water from Washington State University Water System.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
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: 2.1 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2023, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
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.
Pullman homes and lead pipes
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 Pullman city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane Valley 64 mi Vera Water & Power | None above limits | 20.8 ppb |
| Spokane 66 mi City of Spokane | None above limits | 2 ppb |
| Walla Walla 72 mi Walla Walla Water Division | None above limits | 4.4 ppb |
| Pasco 99 mi Pasco Water Department | None above limits | 1.9 ppb |
| Kennewick 102 mi City of Kennewick | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Moses Lake 103 mi City of Moses Lake | Above limit | 3.2 ppb |
Pullman ZIP codes (1)
- 99163
Questions
Is Pullman tap water safe to drink?
City of Pullman Water Department 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 Pullman, WA?
City of Pullman Water Department, which serves 31,315 people.
Does Pullman tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Pullman Water Department had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Pullman homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 44% of Pullman 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. City of Pullman Water Department'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.