What's in Washington, DC tap water?
Washington, DC tap water is treated by DC Water using the Washington Aqueduct's Potomac River source. It meets federal legal limits, but EWG testing flags several disinfection byproducts and other contaminants well above health-based guidelines.
Zip codes covered: 20001, 20002, 20009, 20011, 20016, 20024, 20037 and surrounding Washingtonareas. “× over” compares the detected level to EWG's health guideline, not the federal legal limit.
How to remove these contaminants in Washington
A reverse osmosis system is the most effective way to reduce every contaminant class above at the point of use. The Sanavia Hydra installs under your Washington kitchen sink and is NSF-certified to remove up to 99% of dissolved contaminants: chlorination byproducts, lead, PFAS, arsenic and more.
Washington water quality FAQ
Is Washington, DC tap water safe to drink?
DC Water water meets all federal EPA legal limits. However, independent EWG testing finds 4 contaminants above its stricter health-based guidelines, including Bromodichloromethane and Dichloroacetic acid. Legal compliance and health-optimal water are not the same thing.
What contaminants are in Washington water?
The most notable contaminants above EWG health guidelines are Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Radium (226 + 228), Chromium-6 (hexavalent). These are largely disinfection byproducts and trace metals common to the region's water sources.
Does a reverse osmosis system remove these contaminants?
Yes. A reverse osmosis system like the Sanavia Hydra uses a 0.0001-micron membrane plus multi-stage carbon filtration, NSF-certified to reduce every contaminant class detected in Washington water, at your tap, regardless of what the utility does upstream.