PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS WA5369000

Port Townsend City Of

Port Townsend, Washington 98368 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 16,977 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

16,977
People served
18
EPA violations
2
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 18 drinking-water violations at Port Townsend City Of, 11% of them health-based - below the Washington per-system average.

18
Total EPA violations on record
11%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
16,977
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Port Townsend City Of

Port Townsend City Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 16,977 residents in Port Townsend, Washington (Jefferson County) through 6,452 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 18 total violations for this system , of which 2 (11%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 11 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2014.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 2 violations (TT, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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%).

Port Townsend City Of's 18 violations sit below 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.

Population Served
16,977
Total Violations
18
Health-Based Violations
2
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
6,452
County
Jefferson
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
11
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 2013
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 1 2014
Cadmium MR 1 1979
Mercury MR 1 1979
Nitrate MR 1 1979
Fluoride MR 1 1979
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 1 1979
Chromium MR 1 1979
Arsenic MR 1 1979
TTHM MR 1 2014
Barium MR 1 1979
Selenium MR 1 1979

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFHxA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/4/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/4/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/4/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/4/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/9/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/9/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/9/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/9/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/9/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/9/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/9/2025 <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 Port Townsend City Of.

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 WA5369000 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 Port Townsend City Of 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
2014 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 2456
2014 TTHM MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 2950
2013 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 0200
1979 Cadmium MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 1015
1979 Mercury MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 1035
1979 Nitrate MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 1040
1979 Fluoride MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 1025
1979 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 4000
1979 Chromium MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 1020
1979 Arsenic MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 1005
1979 Barium MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 1010
1979 Selenium MR 1 SDWIS / WA5369000 / 1045

How Port Townsend City Of Compares

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

Metric Port Townsend City Of Washington avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 18 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 None 39.7% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 16,977 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 Port Townsend City Of water safe to drink?
Port Townsend City Of (PWS ID: WA5369000) has 18 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 16,977 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Port Townsend City Of serve?
Port Townsend City Of serves 16,977 people in Port Townsend, Washington. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 6,452 service connections.
What type of violations does Port Townsend City Of have?
Port Townsend City Of has 18 total violations: 2 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 11 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Port Townsend City Of water?
No. Port Townsend City Of was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Port Townsend City Of use?
Port Townsend City Of uses Surface Water 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.
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.