Washington
Washington sits in the Pacific and draws its water primarily from Cascade snowpack, Columbia River, Yakima River, and groundwater. With roughly 7.8 million residents, the state has a developing water reuse program, reusing an estimated 10% of its treated wastewater.
Washingtonwater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Washington
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 79 |
| Groundwater Rule | 39 |
| TTHM | 37 |
| Nitrate | 36 |
| Arsenic | 27 |
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 27 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Snowpack-dependent supplies and the Yakima Basin's irrigation needs drive long-term planning despite a wet reputation.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Washington currently tracks around abnormally dry to moderate conditions. Washington has 2,403 community water systems serving about 9 million people; EPA records show 258 of them (10.7%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Washington in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 141 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 4.3 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 35.9%
- Irrigation share
- 59.3%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~10%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Cascade snowpack
- ≈ Columbia River
- ≈ Yakima River
- ≈ groundwater
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Washington?
Washington has 2,403 community water systems serving about 9 million people. EPA records show 258 of them (10.7%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 28 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Washington's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Revised Total Coliform Rule, Groundwater Rule, TTHM.
How much water does Washington use per person?
Public water systems in Washington withdraw about 141 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 35.9% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Washington?
As of 2026-06-09, 43.2% of Washington is in drought (D1+) and 4% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Washington
25 trackedSeattle
Seattle, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Spokane
Spokane, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Tacoma
Tacoma, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Vancouver
Vancouver, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Bellevue
Bellevue, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Kent
Kent, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Everett
Everett, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Renton
Renton, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Federal Way
Federal Way, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Yakima
Yakima, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Kirkland
Kirkland, WA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Washington
Drought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
ExplorePotable Reuse
Advanced purification turns treated wastewater into water that meets or exceeds drinking-water standards — increasingly essential in water-stressed regions.
ExploreSnowpack Decline
Mountain snow is the West's largest reservoir. As warming shifts snow to rain and melts it earlier, the timing and reliability of water supply are unraveling.
ExploreTribal Water Rights
Native nations hold some of the oldest and largest water rights in the West — often unquantified for a century. Settlements are now reshaping basin allocations.
Explore