Is San Bernardino, CA Tap Water Safe? Quality & Contaminants

What was found in San Bernardino'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	1000000 µg/L 10000% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10000 µg/L	12/12	SYR4
Fluoride	11000 µg/L 275% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 4000 µg/L	12/12	SYR4
Nitrate	9100 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L	12/12	SYR4
Arsenic	140 µg/L 1400% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L	4/12	SYR4
TTHM	114.8 µg/L 144% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L	4/12	SYR4
Combined Uranium	67.05 µg/L 224% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 30 µg/L	9/12	SYR4
Bromoform	62.1 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/12	SYR4
Lithium	44 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/12	UCMR-5
Dibromochloromethane	31.7 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/12	SYR4
Chromium	29 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L	1/12	SYR4
Chloroform	23.5 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/12	SYR4
Bromodichloromethane	14.5 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/12	SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	12.4 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L	3/12	SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid	8.6 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/12	SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid	7.7 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/12	SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid	6.8 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/12	SYR4
Monobromoacetic Acid	1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/12	SYR4
1,1-Dichloroethylene	1.1 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L	1/12	SYR4
Tetrachloroethylene	0.8000 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L	1/12	SYR4
Toluene	0.5000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L	1/12	SYR4
Lead	0.0120 mg/L 80% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L	11/12	LCR
PFHXS	0.0062 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/12	UCMR-5
Pfpea	0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/12	UCMR-5
Pfhxa	0.0035 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/12	UCMR-5
PFBS	0.0032 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/12	UCMR-5

Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Formal violations are listed separately. These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide average. A detection means the lab measured the substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.

Water suppliers serving San Bernardino

Supplier	Population served
SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY WD	109,608
SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 64	14,911
MUSCOY MWC NO. 1	13,000
SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70J	12,843
GLEN HELEN WATER SYSTEM	5,900
GILBERT STREET COMPLEX	3,833
SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN	1,240
CSA 70 W-3 HACIENDA	611
CSA 42 ORO GRANDE	529
CSA 70 W-4 PIONEERTOWN	470
CSA 70-F MORONGO	300
CAMP WATERMAN MWC	55

Frequently asked questions about San Bernardino tap water

Is San Bernardino tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving San Bernardino. 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 San Bernardino?

12 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for San Bernardino, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in San Bernardino's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in San Bernardino include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Nitrate, Arsenic, TTHM. 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.