Arsenic in Spokane Drinking Water: What’s the Risk?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Spokane’s municipal drinking water has 3.19 ppb of arsenic. The EWG’s health guidelines define a safe amount of arsenic as 0.004 ppb or less, making Spokane water’s arsenic 797 times the recommended health guideline. So, what does that mean, and is our water safe to drink?

POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS OF HIGH QUANTITY ARSENIC CONSUMPTION

Arsenic consumption may cause increased risk of skin, bladder, lung, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate cancer. Additionally, arsenic may cause cardiovascular, pulmonary, immunological, neurological, and endocrine disruption effects.

HOW TO DETECT ARSENIC IN YOUR WATER

The erosion of natural deposits allows arsenic to enter our water. Arsenic is odorless and tasteless, so unless you have your water tested, contamination can go undetected.

SOURCES

Environmental Working Group (EWG) “EWG’s Tap Water Database: What’s in Your Drinking Water?” 2024 https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/  

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “Chemical Contaminant Rules.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/chemical-contaminant-rules

Published on: 1/23/2026

Last updated on: 1/23/2026