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Centralia, WA Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Centralia, WA — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Centralia's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Centralia Public Works - Water PWSID: WA5312200 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points, running as high as 1.38 times the limit.

C

Centralia earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: not detected
PFAS above the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points
4 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Centralia's lead level vs. all Washington community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: Not detected — 0% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than % of Washington utilities
Population Served
18166
~8607 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
4 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
0% of EPA action level
Not detected
Action level: 15 ppb
Copper (Cu)
90th percentile of tap samples. SDWIS reports a copper figure only when a system exceeds the action level, so any value here is an exceedance.
123.1% of EPA action level
1,600 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
Lead was not detected at the 90th percentile — the result fell below the laboratory detection limit. That is not the same as an absence of lead in every tap, and older homes with lead service lines can still show higher readings. Copper reached the action level here; a copper figure appears in SDWIS only when a system triggers it.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2022 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2018 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2016 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2015 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

4 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Centralia Public Works - Water
PWSID WA5312200
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 18,166
Service connections 8,607
Systems serving this area 2
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Centralia tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points. No violations are currently open.
Does Centralia water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points, running as high as 1.38 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Centralia? ▼
Centralia Public Works - Water (PWSID WA5312200), one of 2 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2023-12-08. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Centralia Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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