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Fisherman Bay Water Association

What EPA’s and Washington’s records show in this utility’s water: nitrate, arsenic and other regulated chemicals; lead and copper; and violations since 2016, with the certification that handles each result.

Serves
1,195 people
Connections
185
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Lopez Island, WA
County
San Juan
Owner
Private
Hardness
Very hard
The ZIP code it serves

98261

The short answer

1 result is above the health goal. The worst: Arsenic, above the health goal. No health-based violations on file since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Copper: EPA’s file records a utility’s copper only when it exceeds the action level. The last here was 1.8 ppm, for the period ending June 30, 2004. None since is on file, so it is not counted as a current finding.

Arsenic, nitrate, fluoride and chromium (total): Washington’s own results, samples taken from April 6, 2020 to April 20, 2026, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM): EPA’s compliance monitoring file, samples taken from Feb. 1, 2016 to Feb. 1, 2016. Newer results are in the utility’s annual water quality report.

Above the health goal1

Arsenic

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

6.1ppb

Highest yearly average, 2022 to 2026

Averaged by year, the highest was 6.1 ppb, in 2026: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. Its highest single sample was 7.9 ppb. That was also the latest year on file. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 3.0 ppb, in 2016.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”

Below EPA’s limits4

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

1.9ppm

Highest sample; found in 19 of 33

2026 average: 0.63 ppm

The highest sample, in 2025, was 1.9 ppm, below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm. In 2026, the latest year on file, its five samples averaged 0.63 ppm. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 1.4 ppm, in 2016.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

3.6ppb

Highest yearly average, 2016

Averaged by year, the highest was 3.6 ppb, in 2016, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. That is the only year on file.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

0.16ppm

Highest yearly average, 2022 to 2026

2026: not found

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.16 ppm, in 2025, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. In 2026, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in any of its two samples. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 0.18 ppm, in 2012.

What handles it

Chromium (total)

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

3.7ppb

Highest yearly average, 2022 to 2026

2026: not found

Averaged by year, the highest was 3.7 ppb, in 2022, below EPA’s legal limit of 100 ppb. In 2026, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in any of its two samples. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 1.0 ppb, in 2012.

What handles it

One compound tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Lead

What handles it

A certification covers specific claims, not a whole standard. Look for these claims on the certifier’s listing, not the box. Wording varies a little: NSF writes “Lead Reduction,” WQA just “Lead.”

  • NSF/ANSI 53

    Claim: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (III) (50 ppb influent level)

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claim: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=300 ppb Reduction; Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)

At the tap, or for the whole house?

These come with the water itself, so a whole-house system certified for the same claims treats every tap and shower. A filter at the tap treats drinking water for much less. How whole-house systems compare.

Filters with those claims on a certifier’s listing

Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money

Compare five-year costs

The best reverse osmosis systems, ranked

Hardness

Very hard, typically 293 mg/L (17.1 grains per gallon), across 3 sampling points, 2022 to 2026.

Hardness is calcium and magnesium. EPA sets no limit for it: it shows up as scale on fixtures and in water heaters, and as soap that won’t lather. USGS calls water above 60 mg/L moderately hard, above 120 hard and above 180 very hard.

Softeners compared at 17.1 grains per gallon, salt includedSoftener or salt-free conditioner?Washington water hardness, utility by utility

Violations since 2016

No health-based violations on file with EPA since 2016.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Arsenic, nitrate, fluoride and chromium (total) results here are Washington’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) comes from EPA’s file alone, which ends in 2019. Fisherman Bay Water Association’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has newer results for those and the contaminants this page does not show.

  • Your own plumbing. Lead results are the 90th percentile across homes the utility samples. Your home’s service line, solder and fixtures decide yours. A certified lab test is the only way to know.

  • What it means for your health. This page reports what the records show and EPA’s limits and goals; it is not medical advice. If you are worried about a health effect, talk to a doctor or your local health department.

  • Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q3; UCMR 5 didn’t sample this utility; Washington’s results run from April 6, 2020 to April 20, 2026; EPA’s compliance samples are from Feb. 1, 2016 to Feb. 1, 2016.

Testing your own tap

Fisherman Bay Water Association’s results are for the water it sends out. What your own service line, solder and fixtures add shows up only in a test of your tap, by a lab Washington certifies.

The 3 labs Washington certifies closest to the area Fisherman Bay Water Association serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Eurofins DW and WW West, Washington Laboratory

    Burlington, WA · about 25 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, minerals and other inorganics, disinfection byproducts

    (360) 757-1400

  • Exact Scientific Services, Inc.

    Ferndale, WA · about 29 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, organic chemicals, disinfection byproducts

    (360) 733-1205

  • Clallam County Environmental Laboratory

    Port Angeles, WA · about 44 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate

    (360) 417-2334

All 84 certified labs for Washington

Sources

PWSID WA5325547. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Also in San Juan County

All Washington utilities

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