What was found in Soledad's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 890000 µg/L 8900% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2018 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 900 µg/L 9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22505 µg/L — SAN VICENTE MWC · 69 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 484.8 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2018 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 8.8 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 410 µg/L — LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2018 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 300 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 400 µg/L — SAN VICENTE MWC · 69 people · 2017 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 216 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 310 µg/L — SAN VICENTE MWC · 69 people · 2017 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 53 µg/L 353% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Highest in the city: LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 32 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2023 | 2/6 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 10.35 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23 µg/L — LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 6.68 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 15.5 µg/L — SAN VICENTE MWC · 69 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 4.4402 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 13.9315 µg/L — SAN VICENTE MWC · 69 people · 2015 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 8 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 13 µg/L — SAN VICENTE MWC · 69 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9 µg/L — LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.6 µg/L — LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 3 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6 µg/L — LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 4.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.67 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 4.6 µg/L — SAN VICENTE MWC · 69 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.6 µg/L — LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2 µg/L — LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 1 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: SAN VICENTE MWC · 69 people · 2017 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY · 2,327 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SOLEDAD, CITY OF · 19,455 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0039 mg/L — CORRECTIONAL TRAINING FACILITY - SOLEDAD · 4,269 people · 2023 | 6/6 | LCR |
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 95th percentile of the
system's samples — 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 Soledad
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SOLEDAD, CITY OF | 19,455 |
| CORRECTIONAL TRAINING FACILITY - SOLEDAD | 4,269 |
| SALINAS VALLEY STATE PRISON | 2,930 |
| LITTLE BEAR WATER COMPANY | 2,327 |
| ARROYO SECO ESTATES MWS | 70 |
| SAN VICENTE MWC | 69 |
Frequently asked questions about Soledad tap water
Is Soledad tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Soledad. 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 Soledad?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Soledad, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Soledad's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Soledad include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Barium, Copper, Nitrite. The full list, with the level at the main supplier 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.