Where does my water come from?
If you live in a city or town, your water likely comes from a large municipal water system. Residents—outside city limits—get water from small water systems or individual wells.
Water Systems
Individual Well
One well serving a single-family home.
Public Water Systems
Large Public Water Systems (Group A)
- Serves 15 or more connections.
- Serves population greater than 25.
Small Water Systems (Group B)
- Serves 2-14 connections.
- Serves population less than 25.
Group A and Group B systems are regulated through Washington State Department of Health.
Who manages the state's water supply?
Washington State's Department of Ecology manages the state's water supply.
Large and Small Public Water Systems
Most large and small public water systems have permitted water right. A water right is the legal authorization to use a quantity of water for beneficial uses.
Water rights are issued by Washington State's Department of Ecology.
Individual Well
Most individual well water sources operate under a withdrawal exemption.
Water Quality: Public Systems
The EPA identifies contaminants regulated in public drinking water to protect public health. To view public drinking water standards, visit the EPA's website.
Water quality in your neighborhood
If you are on a public water supply, you can contact your water operator for the most recent Consumer Confidence Reports and detailed water quality reports can also be found here. We summarized the water quality of Whitman County group A public water systems for easy access. Last updated: 11/7/2024
The maximum contaminant level for Iron is 0.3 mg/L. The maximum contaminant level for Manganese is 0.05 mg/L.
PFAs level/s for tested public drinking water systems can be viewed here.
| Township | Water System | 2023
Exceedances
Exceedances
Depending on the system, there will be a frequency of how often specific water quality tests need to be performed. Exceedances are when a water system fails one of those water quality tests. A failed test often results in a water system needing to increase the frequency of the test they failed for a period of time to ensure corrective action (eg: treating the water) was taken.
|
Last Exceedance
Exceedances
Depending on the system, there will be a frequency of how often specific water quality tests need to be performed. Exceedances are when a water system fails one of those water quality tests. A failed test often results in a water system needing to increase the frequency of the test they failed for a period of time to ensure corrective action (eg: treating the water) was taken.
|
F/Cl
What does having an F or Cl under the F/Cl column mean?
The F means the water system fluorinates its water. Cl means chlorine is used to disinfect the water system. Many of the small community systems in Whitman County don't chlorinate or fluorinate their water because their wells are very deep and have a confining layer of basalt over them that prevents contamination.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2019) | None |
| Boyer Park | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2011) | None |
| Colfax | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2022) | Cl |
| Colton | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2018) | Cl |
| Endicott | Groundwater Well | Coliform (5/30/24) | Coliform (4/18/2024) | Cl |
| Farmington | Groundwater Well | None | Iron & Manganese (2019) | Cl |
| Steptoe | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2021) | Cl |
| Garfield | Groundwater Well | None | Iron (2021) | Cl |
| Kamiak Park | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2009) | Cl |
| Klemgard Park | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2008) | None |
| LaCrosse | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2022) | None |
| Lamont | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2023) | None |
| Malden | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2003) | Cl |
| Oakesdale | Groundwater Well | Coliform (5/7/24) | Iron (2020) | None |
| Palouse Empire Fairgrounds | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2004) | Cl |
| Palouse | Groundwater Well | None | Iron (2023) | Cl |
| Pullman | Groundwater Well | Iron at 1.22 mg/L & Manganese at 0.146 mg/L in Source 06 ( 3/22/2024) | Coliform & Iron & Manganese (2022) | F & Cl |
| Rosalia | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2013) | Cl |
| St. John | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2016) | Cl |
| Sunset Mobile Park | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2014) | None |
| Tekoa | Groundwater Well | None | Coliform (2023) | Cl |
| Tula Young Hastings Farm | Groundwater Well | Coliform (9/25/2024) | Coliform (2018) | Cl |
| Uniontown | Groundwater Well | None | Nitrate (2007) | Cl |
| WSU | Groundwater Well | Iron at 0.406 mg/L & Manganese at 0.052 mg/L in Source 08 (4/2/2024) | Manganese (2022) | Cl |
| Wawawai Park | Groundwater Well | Coliform (5/29/24) | Coliform (2021) | Cl |
Whitman Group A Water Systems
Albion
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2019)
- F/Cl
- None
Boyer Park
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2011)
- F/Cl
- None
Colfax
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2022)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Colton
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2018)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Endicott
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- Coliform (5/30/24)
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (4/18/2024)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Farmington
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Iron & Manganese (2019)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Steptoe
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2021)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Garfield
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Iron (2021)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Kamiak Park
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2009)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Klemgard Park
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2008)
- F/Cl
- None
LaCrosse
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2022)
- F/Cl
- None
Lamont
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2023)
- F/Cl
- None
Malden
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2003)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Oakesdale
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- Coliform (5/7/24)
- Last Exceedance
- Iron (2020)
- F/Cl
- None
Palouse Empire Fairgrounds
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2004)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Palouse
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Iron (2023)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Pullman
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- Iron at 1.22 mg/L & Manganese at 0.146 mg/L in Source 06 ( 3/22/2024)
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform & Iron & Manganese (2022)
- F/Cl
- F & Cl
Rosalia
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2013)
- F/Cl
- Cl
St. John
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2016)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Sunset Mobile Park
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2014)
- F/Cl
- None
Tekoa
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2023)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Tula Young Hastings Farm
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- Coliform (9/25/2024)
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2018)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Uniontown
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- None
- Last Exceedance
- Nitrate (2007)
- F/Cl
- Cl
WSU
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- Iron at 0.406 mg/L & Manganese at 0.052 mg/L in Source 08 (4/2/2024)
- Last Exceedance
- Manganese (2022)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Wawawai Park
- Water System
- Groundwater Well
- 2025 Exceedances
- Coliform (5/29/24)
- Last Exceedance
- Coliform (2021)
- F/Cl
- Cl
Water Quality: Individual Well
Water quality standards for domestic wells are still of concern, but regulation is limited.
Group B water systems and private well owners, which currently are not required by the state to test for PFAS, can use the dashboard to see if PFAS have been detected nearby to help decide whether to test for PFAS.
Ongoing testing of domestic wells is encouraged for property owners, even when not required. Nitrate and Total Coliform are the contaminants of concern in Whitman County. Submit your tests to a certified water testing laboratory.
The following laboratories are the closest options to Whitman County:
Anatek Labs, Inc.
1282 Alturas Drive, Moscow, ID 83843
1282 Alturas Drive, Moscow, ID 83843
Anatek Labs, Inc.
504 E. Sprague Suite D, Spokane WA 99202
504 E. Sprague Suite D, Spokane WA 99202
AAA Superior Laboratory
404 First Street, Cheney, WA 99004
404 First Street, Cheney, WA 99004
Be sure to follow proper protocols when sampling your drinking water.
If your water tests results for Nitrate or Total Coliform exceed state standards, it is recommended you disinfect your well and retest. General well disinfection can vary based on the contaminant and surrounding area. Basic "shocking" techniques are often used before retesting for total coliform.
Drilling an Individual Well
Visit the Department of Ecology for information on well construction and licensing information, and contract with a licensed well driller.
Proof of Safety for Wells
Once a drinking water source is established, Whitman County Public Health requires the water to be tested for Nitrate and Total Coliform to ensure safety.
Test results from an accredited lab must be sent to Whitman County Public Health before permits are issued. Results must indicate that the drinking water source is safe.