What was found in Carmel's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 900000 µg/L 9000% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 8200 µg/L 205% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 4000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 6300 µg/L 630% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 6200 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 290 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 161 µg/L 268% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 123 µg/L 154% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 111 µg/L 8.5% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 96 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 82 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 75 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 73 µg/L 7.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 72 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 51 µg/L 1020% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 42 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 37.25 µg/L 124% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 30 µg/L | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 35 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 30 µg/L 300% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 25 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 20 µg/L 133% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 13 µg/L 6.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 10 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 9.2 µg/L 184% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Diquat | 8.7 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 20 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.4 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 1 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Asbestos | 0.1980 MFL 2.8% of the EPA limit 7 MFL | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0030 mg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 4/4 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Carmel
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS | 966 |
| CARMEL RIVIERA MWC | 584 |
| CANADA WOODS WC | 356 |
| BRANDON CREEK MWS | 41 |
Frequently asked questions about Carmel tap water
Is Carmel tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 30 contaminants in the water serving Carmel. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Carmel?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Carmel, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Carmel's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Carmel include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Nitrite, Nitrate, Barium. The full list, with the highest level found and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.