Home > Impact > Public Health > Water Quality > 2025 Water Quality Report
Each year, Alderwood Water & Wastewater District (AWWD) prepares a Water Quality Report to keep you informed about the water and services that we have delivered to our customers over the past year. Our goal in providing this information is to help you understand what is in your water – and what is not.
This report includes details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to strict Federal water quality standards. It also provides water treatment information, facts on contaminants, and issues of concern to immune-compromised persons.
This report contains important information about your drinking water. If English is not your first language, we encourage you to have someone translate it for you, or you may consider speaking with someone who can help explain the contents of the report to you.
CLEAN, RELIABLE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Where does my water come from?
Your drinking water is purchased from the City of Everett and comes from Spada Reservoir, located at the headwaters of the Sultan River about 30 miles east of Everett. Spada Reservoir was created in 1964 in partnership with the Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) and holds about 50 billion gallons of ‘source’ water. From the Spada Reservoir, the water travels through a pipeline to Chaplain Reservoir, where the City of Everett Water Filtration Plant is located.
Who does AWWD serve?
AWWD serves 44 square miles of area in southwest Snohomish County. AWWD’s service area includes the neighborhoods of Alderwood Manor, Martha Lake, North Creek, Picnic Point, and Canyon Park.
Is my water safe?
Yes, AWWD’s drinking water surpasses all federal and state drinking water requirements.
Day after day, year after year, AWWD puts you and your family’s health as our number one priority. We understand the importance of clean drinking water to a healthy life.
All water sources (both tap and bottled water) contain impurities. As water flows over the surface of the land and through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals (and in some cases, radioactive material) and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.
What about lead?
There is nothing more important to us than providing safe, reliable, affordable water. As part of this mission, we want to keep your household safe from lead.
Lead is a powerful toxin that is harmful to human health. Infants, young children, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of lead because of the way lead accumulates in the body.
In partnership with the City of Everett, AWWD treats and tests your water to ensure it is lead-free when it leaves the treatment facility, and travels through the water mains to our customers. Some older homes may have private service lines, household plumbing materials, and faucets made from lead. Those fixtures can deposit lead into a home’s water.
How do I know if I have lead in my water?
If you think you may have lead in your home’s pipes or water fixtures, you can test for it using an inexpensive home test kit. Kits are available online and at most major hardware stores. If you find lead in your home’s water, follow these steps to begin limiting your exposure:
Can lead affect my pets?
Lead can impact animals the same way it does humans. Because domestic animals consume a relatively high volume of water relative to their body weight, pet owners with lead in their home plumbing may want to take precautions.
Drinking water facts
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy,
persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk for infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
The U.S. EPA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline listed above.
Contaminants that may be present in untreated, unfiltered Spada Lake source water could include:
In 2025, your water was tested for more than 100 possible contaminants. What does all the information in this report mean? Simply put, the data confirms that your drinking water meets or exceeds all government standards and is safe to drink.
Water Conservation
In the Spring of 2022, AWWD’s Board of Commissioners adopted new conservation goals designed to protect water as a critical resource, now and into the future. Our initiatives include the following:
The newest initiatives include public education and public outreach. Please explore additional conservation resources (links, videos, and materials for children) on our website. As part of our public outreach, we want to hear from you. Email us at Conservation@awwd.com.
Why use water conservation kits?
Leaks cost money. As spring begins, households will be increasing water use. Here is how many gallons per day (GPD) of water you can save using conservation kits:
5.31 GPD – Indoor Kit – Low-flow Shower Head
5.31 GPD – Indoor Kit – Kitchen Aerator
6.37 GPD – Outdoor Kit – Deluxe Hose Nozzle
6.37 GPD – Outdoor Kit – Automatic Shut-off Timer
7.04 GPD – Efficient Toilet Rebate (for replacing inefficient toilets)
If you used all these, over the course of one year you could save about 11,100 gallons of water. That is enough to fill 300 bathtubs – equal to what the average single family uses in two months! Visit www.awwd.com and search ‘Free Conservation Kits’ to discover how to get your free conservation kits.
Water Use Efficiency Report
Water Use Efficient Report
Contaminant Information
The contaminant information provided in this report is included because it is possible for these contaminants to be found in AWWD’s source water (the City of Everett). However, it is important to note that no dangerous levels of these contaminants have been found in your water. For more information, please refer to our Water Quality Results on pages 11 to 14.
CRYPTOSPORIDIUM is a one-celled intestinal parasite that, if ingested, may cause fever, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal distress. It can be found in all of Washington’s rivers, streams, and lakes. It comes from animal or human wastes deposited in the watershed. Cryptosporidium is resistant to chlorine but is removed by effective filtration and sedimentation treatment. It can also be inactivated by certain types of alternate disinfection processes such as ozonation and ultraviolet contractors. Past monitoring results suggest that Cryptosporidium is present at the source only occasionally and at very low concentrations.
TREATMENT POLYMERS are added during water treatment as organic polymer coagulants, which improve coagulation and filtration that remove particulates from the water. The particulates that are removed can include viruses, bacteria, and other disease-causing organisms. The U.S. EPA sets limits on the type and amount of polymer that a water system can add to the water. In addition to U.S. EPA limits, the State of Washington requires that all polymers used be safe for potable water use by an independent testing organization (NSF International). During treatment, water plant staff adds only NSF-approved polymers and the levels used are far below the safe limits set by the U.S. EPA.
PERCHLORATE. In 2009, the U.S. EPA released a health advisory for perchlorate, an inorganic contaminant used in solid propellant for rockets, missiles, fireworks, and elsewhere (e.g., matches, flares). Perchlorate can interfere with human thyroid and metabolic functions. In mid-2009, the City of Everett’s staff implemented a monthly monitoring perchlorate program. Through 2025, no perchlorate has been detected in Everett’s drinking water.
The water quality monitoring results on the following pages can be difficult to interpret. We have used many acronyms so that the information fits into the tables. Definitions are provided here for you. If you have additional questions, please contact us at (425) 787-0250.
Regulated Contaminants
Last year, your drinking water was tested for hundreds of possible contaminants. The contaminants that were detected are listed in the following tables. In reading this data, it is important to note that all these contaminants were present in amounts below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) allowable levels. To ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. EPA sets regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in the water provided by public water systems like Alderwood Water & Wastewater District.
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5)
Alderwood Water & Wastewater District collected quarterly samples at the entry point to the water distribution system according to the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Rule (UCMR5). These samples were tested for 29 per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium. No PFAS or lithium were detected. The full results for the UCMR5 are listed in the table below.
The USPA Drinking Water Regulations require this statement to be included with the lead and copper sampling results, regardless of levels observed
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Everett Utilities division is responsible for providing high quality drinking water but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 1-800-426-4791 or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/ lead.
To learn more about WA state efforts addressing lead in schools and licensed childcare facilities, visit https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/drinking-water/contaminants/lead/lead-schools
The Alderwood Water & Wastewater District completed a USEPA-required inventory of the service line material present in the District in 2024. No lead service lines were found. Results of the inventory can be found at our website at www.awwd.com
Would you like to participate in decisions about your utility?
AWWD’s Board of Commissioners holds regular business meetings on the first and third Mondays of the month at 5:00 PM. For a current schedule, including holiday adjustments, please visit www.awwd.com
Important Contact Information
For more information on water quality topics, contact any of the following agencies:
– AWWD Water Quality Division (425) 787-0250 www.awwd.com
– Washington State Department of Health (253) 395-6750 www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw
– U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791 www.epa.gov/water
