Does Washington, DC tap water have any EPA-reported violations?

As of October 2026, EPA SDWIS records show 56 violation(s) across the community water systems serving Washington, of which 12 are classified by the EPA as health-based. Most older violations have returned to compliance; see the per-system list.

Where does Washington, DC tap water come from?

Washington is served by 9 active community water system(s). Their primary sources, per EPA records, are: surface water, groundwater.

DC / Washington

DC · Tap water records

Washington tap water, in plain English

Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in Washington. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved October 2026, Washington is served by 9 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 654,082 people.

As of October 2026, EPA records show 56 violations across the community water system(s) serving Washington, going back to the earliest EPA record. 12 of these are classified by the EPA as health-based (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks); the rest are monitoring or reporting violations. Each is listed by system below, with its status.

9

Community water systems
~654,082

People served (EPA-reported)
October 2026

EPA records reviewed through

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What the EPA has on record, by system

D.C. Water And Sewer Authority

632,323 served · surface water · PWSID DC0000002

Health-based Lead and Copper Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 5 times between July 2001 and October 2004. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Revised Total Coliform Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between December 2022 and January 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between December 2022 and January 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between October 2003 and July 2005. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 7 times between July 1998 and July 2003. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.

Joint Base Anacostia - Bolling

19,312 served · surface water · PWSID DC0000004

Health-based Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 5 times between December 2018 and September 2025. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Health-based Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 2 times between November 2010 and March 2012. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Public Notice: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times between April 2024 and March 2026. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Revised Total Coliform Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 7 times between April 2016 and February 2026. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 5 times between April 2023 and February 2026. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Nitrate: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between January 2021 and January 2025. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between October 2018 and July 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring TTHM: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between July 2019 and April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in April 2024. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Nitrite: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 4 times between July 2007 and July 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in June 2022. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.