Tap Water Lookup

EPA system DC0000002 · District of Columbia

D.C. Water and Sewer Authority: 2 PFAS found; PFHxA up to 3.1 ppt, below the 3,000 ppt screening level

System ID DC0000002; community water system; District of Columbia; source: purchased surface water; serves 632,323 people via 133,500 connections; status: active

In focus632,323people served, EPA registry
Public records. Clearer context.
Highest result against its EPA referencePFHxA
PFHxA: 3.1 ppt; screening level 3,000 ppt. highest single sample.3.1 pptscreening level: 3,000 ppt

highest single sample; sampled February 2024–October 2024. Source: EPA UCMR 5 final release, August 2026.

D.C. Water and Sewer Authority is a local-government-owned community water system in District of Columbia serving about 632,323 people, matched to 57 ZIP codes.

< 4.0 ppt
PFOA, highest complete-set average
8 samples, none above the reporting level
MCL 4.0 ppt · not detected above the reporting level
< 4.0 ppt
PFOS, highest complete-set average
8 samples, none above the reporting level
MCL 4.0 ppt · not detected above the reporting level
< 9 ppb
Lithium, highest single sample
8 samples, none above the reporting level
health reference level 10 ppb · not detected above the reporting level
2 / 29
PFAS found above the reporting level
240 results, 2 entry points
0 at or above an MCL on the average basis
2 ppb
Lead 90th percentile
period ending Dec 31, 2025
action level 15 ppb · below the action level
0
health-based violations since Sep 3, 2016
4 violations in total

PFAS treatment declared to EPA: None declared (8 of 8 sampling events) · PFAS found before UCMR 5: Yes, at 8 of 8 sampling events

What EPA says about what was found

  • PFHxA EPA's 2023 IRIS assessment for PFHxA cites developmental, liver and blood effects in animal studies. EPA source

Quoted from EPA assessments. This site adds no health claims of its own.

PFAS and lithium: what EPA's national survey found

EPA tested this water for 30 substances and found 2.

Between January 2024 and October 2024, EPA's UCMR 5 program tested 240 samples from 2 sampling locations for 30 contaminants (29 PFAS plus lithium). 2 were detected above the reporting level in at least one sample.

Result EPA comparesNot detected, shown at the reporting levelEPA reference value, at the middle of each row's scale
ContaminantResult against the EPA referenceResultStatus
PFPeAhighest single sample
4.7 ppt
detected; no EPA reference value
PFHxAhighest single sample
3.1 ppt
below the screening level
Show the 28 contaminants not detected above the reporting level
11Cl-PF3OUdSnot detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
4:2 FTSnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
6:2 FTSnot detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
8:2 FTSnot detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
9Cl-PF3ONSnot detected · reporting level 2.0 ppt
< 2.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
ADONAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
HFPO-DA (GenX)not detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
Lithiumnot detected · reporting level 9 ppb
< 9 ppb
not detected above the reporting level
NEtFOSAAnot detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
NFDHAnot detected · reporting level 20.0 ppt
< 20.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
NMeFOSAAnot detected · reporting level 6.0 ppt
< 6.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFBAnot detected · reporting level 5.0 ppt
< 5.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFBSnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFDAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFDoAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFEESAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFHpAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFHpSnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFHxSnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFMBAnot detected · reporting level 3.0 ppt
< 3.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFMPAnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFNAnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFOAnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFOSnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFPeSnot detected · reporting level 4.0 ppt
< 4.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFTAnot detected · reporting level 8.0 ppt
< 8.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFTrDAnot detected · reporting level 7.0 ppt
< 7.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
PFUnAnot detected · reporting level 2.0 ppt
< 2.0 ppt
not detected above the reporting level
Full table: samples, detections, highest single sample, complete-set average and sampling dates for all 30 contaminants
ContaminantSamplesDetectionsHighest single sampleComplete-set average (results used)EPA referenceStatusSampled
PFPeA824.7 ppt1.2 ppt (4 of 4)none setdetected; no EPA reference valueFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFHxA813.1 ppt0.8 ppt (4 of 4)3,000 ppt screening level · compared on the highest samplebelow the screening levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
11Cl-PF3OUdS80< 5.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
4:2 FTS80< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
6:2 FTS80< 5.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
8:2 FTS80< 5.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
9Cl-PF3ONS80< 2.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
ADONA80< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
HFPO-DA (GenX)80< 5.0 ppt10.0 ppt MCL (rescission proposed) · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
Lithium80< 9 ppb10 ppb health reference level · compared on the highest samplenot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2024 – October 2024
NEtFOSAA80< 5.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2024 – October 2024
NFDHA80< 20.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
NMeFOSAA80< 6.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2024 – October 2024
PFBA80< 5.0 ppt6,000 ppt screening level · compared on the highest samplenot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFBS80< 3.0 ppt2,000 ppt health-based water concentration · compared on the highest samplenot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFDA80< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFDoA80< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFEESA80< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFHpA80< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFHpS80< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFHxS80< 3.0 ppt10.0 ppt MCL (rescission proposed) · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFMBA80< 3.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFMPA80< 4.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFNA80< 4.0 ppt10.0 ppt MCL (rescission proposed) · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFOA80< 4.0 ppt4.0 ppt MCL · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFOS80< 4.0 ppt4.0 ppt MCL · compared on the complete-set averagenot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFPeS80< 4.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
PFTA80< 8.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2024 – October 2024
PFTrDA80< 7.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelJanuary 2024 – October 2024
PFUnA80< 2.0 pptnone setnot detected above the reporting levelFebruary 2024 – October 2024
UCMR 5 is a one-time national monitoring survey. Its results do not indicate compliance or non-compliance with the PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels, which are enforced on running annual averages and take effect in 2029 (EPA has proposed allowing extensions to 2031). A single result above a limit on this page is a measurement, not a violation.

Sampling-point average: mean of a location's two (ground water) or four (surface water) UCMR 5 results with non-detects counted as zero, EPA's method for comparing UCMR 5 data to the PFAS MCLs. EPA rounds to the reference value's significant digits before deciding whether an average is "greater than" an MCL (PFOA/PFOS averages count as above 4.0 ng/L only from 4.05 ng/L; lithium results count as above the 10 ppb reference only from 15 ppb). This site does not apply that rounding: "at or above" here means the measured value is numerically at or above the reference.

Every detection by sampling location (3 results)
DateSampling locationSource waterContaminantResultReporting level
Jul 22, 2024Dale 18 Dalecarlia Connectionsurface waterPFPeA4.4 ppt3.0 ppt
Jul 22, 2024McMillan J South Mcmillan Connectionsurface waterPFHxA3.1 ppt3.0 ppt
Jul 22, 2024McMillan J South Mcmillan Connectionsurface waterPFPeA4.7 ppt3.0 ppt

Utility-reported context (UCMR 5 questionnaire, aggregated across sampling events): PFAS previously found at this system: yes at 8 of 8 sampling events; potential PFAS sources nearby: yes at 8 of 8 sampling events; PFAS treatment in place: no PFAS treatment at 8 of 8 sampling events.

Lead at customer taps

In the latest completed monitoring period, ending Dec 31, 2025, 9 in 10 sampled homes had lead at or below 2 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that triggers utility action. The action level has been reached in 10 of the 58 periods on record.

Action level 15 ppb015Jan 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2020: 2 ppbJul 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020: 3 ppbJan 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2021: 2 ppbJul 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021: 3 ppbJan 1, 2022 – Jun 30, 2022: 2 ppbJul 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022: 2 ppbJan 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2023: 2 ppbJul 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023: 2 ppbJan 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2024: 2 ppbJul 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024: 2 ppbJan 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025: 1 ppbJul 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025: 2 ppbJun 30, 2020Dec 31, 20252 ppb

In the most recent completed lead monitoring period, ending Dec 31, 2025, the 90th-percentile lead result at customer taps was 2 ppb, below the action level of 15 ppb; 10 of the 58 monitoring periods on record reached the action level. The 90th percentile is the value that 9 in 10 sampled homes were at or below. Values are in parts per billion (ppb).

Monitoring periodMetal90th percentileAction levelStatus
Jul 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025Lead1 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2024Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2023Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2022 – Jun 30, 2022Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2021Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2020Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Show all 58 monitoring periods on record
Monitoring periodMetal90th percentileAction levelStatus
Jul 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2025Lead1 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2024Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2023Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2022 – Jun 30, 2022Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2021 – Jun 30, 2021Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2020Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2019Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2019 – Jun 30, 2019Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2018 – Jun 30, 2018Lead2.7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017Lead3.4 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2017 – Jun 30, 2017Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2016 – Dec 31, 2016Lead3.4 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2016 – Jun 30, 2016Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2015Lead4 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2015 – Jun 30, 2015Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2014Lead4 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2014 – Jun 30, 2014Lead2 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013Lead5.5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2013 – Jun 30, 2013Lead4 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2012 – Dec 31, 2012Lead4 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2012 – Jun 30, 2012Lead3 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011Lead5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2011 – Jun 30, 2011Lead5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2010 – Dec 31, 2010Lead9 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2010 – Jun 30, 2010Lead7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2009 – Dec 31, 2009Lead7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2009 – Jun 30, 2009Lead6 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2008 – Dec 31, 2008Lead8 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2008 – Jun 30, 2008Lead7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2007 – Dec 31, 2007Lead11 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2007 – Jun 30, 2007Lead10 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2006 – Dec 31, 2006Lead12 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 2006 – Jun 30, 2006Lead10 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 2005 – Dec 31, 2005Lead15 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level
Jan 1, 2005 – Jun 30, 2005Lead15 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level
Jul 1, 2004 – Dec 31, 2004Lead54 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level
Jan 1, 2004 – Jun 30, 2004Lead59 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level
Jul 1, 2003 – Dec 31, 2003Lead63 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level
Jan 1, 2003 – Jun 30, 2003Lead40 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level
Jul 1, 2001 – Jun 30, 2002Lead75 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level
Jul 1, 2000 – Jun 30, 2001Lead35 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level
Jul 1, 1999 – Jun 30, 2000Lead12 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 1999 – Jun 30, 1999Lead5 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 1998 – Dec 31, 1998Lead7 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 1997 – Dec 31, 1997Lead8 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 1997 – Jun 30, 1997Lead6 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 1994 – Dec 31, 1994Lead12 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jan 1, 1994 – Jun 30, 1994Lead14 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 1993 – Dec 31, 1993Lead28 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level
Jan 1, 1993 – Jun 30, 1993Lead12 ppb15 ppbbelow the action level
Jul 1, 1992 – Dec 31, 1992Lead39 ppb15 ppbat or above the action level

Drinking water violations since Sep 3, 2016

EPA lists 4 violations since Sep 3, 2016. None is health-based. All concern missed monitoring, reporting or public notices, not the water itself.

EPA's SDWIS database lists 4 violations recorded since Sep 3, 2016: 4 for monitoring or reporting, none health-based.

Compliance periodTypeContaminant / ruleDescriptionRecordsStatus
Jan 1, 2023 – Jan 31, 2023MONRevised Total Coliform RuleMonitoring, Routine (RTCR)1 recordResolved · 3 enforcement actions
Jan 1, 2023 – Jan 31, 2023MRSurface Water Treatment RuleMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter)1 recordResolved · 3 enforcement actions
Dec 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022MONRevised Total Coliform RuleMonitoring, Routine (RTCR)1 recordResolved · 3 enforcement actions
Dec 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022MRSurface Water Treatment RuleMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter)1 recordResolved · 3 enforcement actions

Sanitary surveys and site visits

Most recent state inspection: Dec 14, 2023 (sanitary survey); 1 visit since Sep 3, 2021.

What you can do about these results

Filters certified to reduce PFOA and PFOS

EPA testing found 2 PFAS above reporting levels in this utility's water.

Look for NSF/ANSI 53 (activated carbon) or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) certification that names PFOA/PFOS reduction.

Filters certified for lead reduction

10 of this utility's 58 lead monitoring periods on record reached the 15 ppb action level (most recent 90th percentile 2 ppb).

NSF/ANSI 53 with a lead-reduction claim, or NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis. Lead comes from plumbing, so a point-of-use filter at the kitchen tap is the relevant type.

ZIP codes served

Sources

Data vintage: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, samples collected 2023-01-03 – 2026-06-17, final release, August 2026 (file dated Aug 28, 2026); EPA SDWIS via ECHO, 2026Q2 extract (file dated Jul 9, 2026); EPA service-area boundaries v3.0; Census 2020 ZCTAs. Page generated 2026-09-03.

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