Seattle, WA vs Tacoma, WA

When comparing tap water quality between Seattle, WA and Tacoma, WA, Tacoma currently holds a substantial 15-point lead in average WaterQ score, with a score of 97 out of 100 versus 82 for Seattle. Seattle, WA carries a B grade while Tacoma, WA carries an A. A WaterQ score reflects an aggregate of EPA-reported violations, monitoring data, and compliance history across all public water systems serving each city, so a higher score generally indicates fewer recent violations and a stronger compliance record, though it does not guarantee that every tap in the city tests identically.

Seattle, WA is the larger of the two, with 602,036 more residents than Tacoma. Tacoma is served by 21 public water systems, compared with 6 in Seattle — a difference of 15 systems. A larger number of systems often reflects a more fragmented distribution network spanning multiple utilities, suburbs, or rural service areas, while a single large utility serving a big population can benefit from economies of scale in treatment and monitoring, but may also face more complex, aging infrastructure to maintain.

For residents of either Seattle or Tacoma, the most useful next step is to look up the specific water system that serves your address, since city-wide averages combine results from every system in the area. Visit the Seattle or Tacoma city pages below for a breakdown of local systems, recent violations, and contaminant-specific data, or browse WaterQ's contaminants directory to learn what each measured substance means for health.