Kent, Washington Water Outage Today
Live Kent water outage reports, City of Kent Water’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Kent, Washington in the last 24 hours
Who supplies water in Kent?
Drinking water in Kent, Washington is supplied by City of Kent Water, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Washington are regulated by the Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water.
To report no water or a main break, call City of Kent Water at 253-856-5600.
Who runs the water in Kent: system profile
Federal records name Kent Water Department as the public water system for Kent, with about 166,421 people on its mains. Customers know it as City of Kent Water; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Kent Water Department (WA5338150) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 166,421 through 35,962 service connections |
| Source of the water | Purchased surface water |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 2 surface intakes, 13 active wells, 10 treatment points |
| Connections to other systems | 7 (6 listed as emergency supply) |
| State regulator | Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 0 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 1 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Source water and treatment in Kent
Kent does not collect its own raw water. Kent Water Department buys surface water from City of Tacoma Water Division, Highline Water District, and City of Auburn and distributes it through its own mains. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include 212Th WTP.
Why this matters when the water stops. Local crews can fix local mains, but not a failure at City of Tacoma Water Division. When that supplier cuts flow, Kent has only its tanks to fall back on, so check both its notices and those from City of Kent Water. EPA lists 6 emergency connections to neighboring systems, which can be opened to move water across a boundary during a failure.
Why the water goes out in Kent
Water outages are local, so the likely cause depends on weather, pipe age and the grid. For Kent, these stand out.
- Freezing weather. Kent sees about 28 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 1 day at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on January 13, 2024. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 4 days, ending December 29, 2021. Frost pushes into shallow service lines first. Mains follow when the ground heaves and thaws, which is why break counts climb a day or two after the temperature swings.
- Younger pipe, different risks. Only 21.8% of occupied homes in Kent predate 1970 (US 35.5%), so more of the network is newer plastic or ductile iron. Breaks tend to come from construction damage, pressure surges and weather rather than age.
- Damage from other crews. Water mains share the ground with gas, power and telecom lines, and a strike by any contractor can dry up a block in seconds.
- Scheduled work, or a fault inside your own home. Utilities warn customers before a planned shutoff. If nothing was announced and the neighbors are fine, the cause is probably your shutoff valve, meter or pressure regulator.
Kent weather and water-main stress, 2015–2025
Main break season in Kent runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around January through March.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 27.5 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 1.1 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 1.5 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 0.3 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0.2 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 5 |
| Average annual precipitation | 50.2 in |
| Wettest year | 2016 (57.2 in) |
| Driest year | 2019 (35.5 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 13, 2024 |
| Hottest day in the record | June 28, 2021 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in February, averaging 7.9 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2016 with 57.2 inches; the driest was 2019 with 35.5. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The figures are reanalysis estimates for the center of Kent, not readings from a single weather station, so treat them as a guide to how often each kind of weather occurs rather than as official records.
Boil water advisories and the federal violation record for Kent
Since 2015, EPA's record for Kent Water Department shows no health-based violations. It also lists 1 monitoring or reporting entry that is about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent entries, all monitoring or reporting:
- July 2024: A late or missing annual water quality report It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Public notice and annual reports | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
A boil water notice in Kent is a separate thing from a violation. City of Kent Water issues one when pressure falls low enough for contamination to enter the pipes, after a main break is repaired, or when a routine test comes back positive. The Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water oversees the process, and the notice stays until clean samples come back, usually a day or two after pressure returns.
Lead, older pipes and water quality in Kent
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Kent Water Department is 0 ppb (2024). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is far from the limit.
Highest result on file: 1 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
21.8% of occupied homes in Kent were built before 1970, and lead service lines and solder stayed legal until the federal ban in 1986. After any outage that disturbs the pipes, run the cold tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, and ask City of Kent Water about its lead service line inventory.
When will the water come back on in Kent?
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Kent usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | Half a day once the crew has isolated the pipe |
| Large or deep main | 1 to 3 days |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | Until power returns and tanks recover, often within a day |
| Boil water notice after service returns | Until two clean rounds of samples, usually 1 to 2 days |
| Frozen service line or meter | Until it thaws or a plumber repairs it |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Ask City of Kent Water for a restoration estimate when you report the outage; for large breaks it is normally posted and updated as the repair progresses.
Emergency water storage for Kent households
The average household in Kent has about 2.9 people, so FEMA's minimum of one gallon per person per day comes to roughly 9 gallons for three days and 40 gallons for two weeks.
- A standard water heater is a ready-made 40-gallon reserve. Shut off its power or gas, open a hot tap somewhere in the house, and draw from the drain valve.
- Fill a tub or large containers early for toilets, cleaning and handwashing, and store drinking water separately in clean bottles.
Water systems near Kent, side by side
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent, WA | Kent Water Department | 166,421 | Bought (surface) | 0 | 1 |
| Renton, WA | City of Renton | 108,091 | Ground | 0 | 1.9 |
| Tacoma, WA | City of Tacoma Water Division | 446,170 | Surface | 0 | 2.1 |
| Bellevue, WA | City of Bellevue | 321,349 | Bought (surface) | 0 | – |
| Seattle, WA | Seattle Public Utilities | 1,161,961 | Surface | 1 | 4.1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Where to find official Kent water notices
Official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil advisories comes from City of Kent Water, not from this page. Our water outage guide explains what each kind of notice asks you to do.
Kent water outage questions
Who do I call about no water in Kent?
City of Kent Water at 253-856-5600, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
What is the source of Kent tap water?
Per EPA, the water system for Kent (Kent Water Department) is classed as purchased surface water. It buys from City of Tacoma Water Division, Highline Water District, and City of Auburn.
Can you drink the tap water in Kent?
EPA lists no health-based violations for Kent Water Department since 2015, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 0 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
What time of year are Kent water main breaks most common?
Cold weather drives most breaks in Kent, which averages about 28 freezing days a year. Expect the most calls from January through March, especially a day or two after a hard freeze when the ground thaws.
Why is my water pressure low in Kent?
A sudden drop usually means a break or valve problem nearby, while a slow decline in the evening points to demand. If the whole street is affected, tell City of Kent Water; if not, look at your own regulator and shutoff.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in Kent?
Plan on one to two days after pressure is back. City of Kent Water samples the water, waits for clean lab results and then lifts the notice, with the Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water overseeing the steps.
How much water should a Kent household store?
One gallon per person per day is the FEMA minimum. For Kent that means about 9 gallons to cover three days for an average household of 2.9, and 40 gallons for two weeks.
Does Kent have lead pipes?
Lead pipe was legal until 1986, and 21.8% of occupied homes in Kent predate 1970, so it is possible in older neighborhoods. City of Kent Water can tell you what your service line is made of; a lead-certified filter is a sensible precaution if you are unsure.
Is there a water outage map for Kent?
We do not run a pipe map. The report count at the top of this page shows what other people in Kent have reported in the last 24 hours. For the official picture, check City of Kent Water for its outage page, alerts and social accounts.
More outage pages for Kent and nearby
Other outage types in Kent
Water Service Outages in cities near Kent
- Renton, WA 7 mi · City of Renton Water Utility
- Tacoma, WA 13 mi · Tacoma Water
- Seattle, WA 16 mi · Seattle Public Utilities
- Bellevue, WA 16 mi · Bellevue Utilities
- Everett, WA 41 mi · City of Everett Public Works
- Yakima, WA 98 mi · City of Yakima Water
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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