PlainWater
States → Washington

Community Water System · PWS WA5362000

Northwest Water Assoc. Inc.

Lynden, Washington 98264 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 400 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

400
People served
221
EPA violations
2
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 221 drinking-water violations at Northwest Water Assoc. Inc., 1% of them health-based - above the Washington per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

221
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
400
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Northwest Water Assoc. Inc.

Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 400 residents in Lynden, Washington (Whatcom County) through 153 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 221 total violations for this system , of which 2 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 217 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2018.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is DICHLOROMETHANE, recorded in 10 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 4.1 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Washington, EPA tracks 4,557 public water systems serving 9,736,844 people, with 314,648 cumulative violations and 20,590 health-based violations on record. About 92% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 69 violations. Statewide, 98 of 247 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (39.7%).

Northwest Water Assoc. Inc.'s 221 violations sit above the Washington average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
400
Total Violations
221
Health-Based Violations
2
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
153
County
Whatcom
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
2
Monitoring Violations
217
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 10 2010
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 10 2010
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 10 2010
Vinyl chloride MR 10 2010
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 10 2010
Carbon tetrachloride MR 10 2010
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 10 2010
Trichloroethylene MR 10 2010
CHLOROBENZENE MR 10 2010
Benzene MR 10 2010
Toluene MR 10 2010
Ethylbenzene MR 10 2010
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 10 2010
Styrene MR 10 2010
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 10 2010
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 10 2010
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 10 2010
Tetrachloroethylene MR 10 2010
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 10 2010
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 10 2010
Diquat MR 5 2005
Coliform (TCR) MR 3 1996
Coliform (TCR) MCL 2 2004
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 1 2018
Barium MR 1 1979
Cadmium MR 1 1979
Mercury MR 1 1979
Selenium MR 1 1979
Arsenic MR 1 1979
Nitrate MR 1 1979

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 58 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
HFPO-DA 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/20/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/20/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/20/2025 4.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFBA 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/20/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/20/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/20/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/20/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/20/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/20/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/20/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 5/20/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/20/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/20/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/20/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Northwest Water Assoc. Inc..

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID WA5362000 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Washington Drinking Water Authority

Washington State Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. under EPA-delegated authority.

Open WA regulator portal

Source: Washington State Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2018 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 1 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 7000
2010 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2964
2010 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2968
2010 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2969
2010 Vinyl chloride MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2976
2010 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2979
2010 Carbon tetrachloride MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2982
2010 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2983
2010 Trichloroethylene MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2984
2010 CHLOROBENZENE MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2989
2010 Benzene MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2990
2010 Toluene MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2991
2010 Ethylbenzene MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2992
2010 cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2380
2010 Styrene MR 10 SDWIS / WA5362000 / 2996

How Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. Washington avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 221 69 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 2 4.5 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 39.7% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 400 2,137 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 4,557 regulated public water systems in Washington.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. water safe to drink? ▼
Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. (PWS ID: WA5362000) has 221 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 400 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. serve? ▼
Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. serves 400 people in Lynden, Washington. It is a Private-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 153 service connections.
What type of violations does Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. have? ▼
Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. has 221 total violations: 2 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 217 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Northwest Water Assoc. Inc.'s water supply: PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. use? ▼
Northwest Water Assoc. Inc. uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.