What was found in California'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 2500 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 28/28 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 100 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 18/28 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 59.18 µg/L No EPA limit set | 28/28 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 27.2 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 28/28 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 27 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 26/28 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 16.4 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 20/28 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 12 µg/L 120% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 18/28 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 11 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 5/28 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.54 µg/L No EPA limit set | 28/28 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 6.5 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 6/28 | SYR4 |
| Endrin | 4.66 µg/L 233% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 2 µg/L | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.1 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 3.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 20/28 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3 pCi/L 20% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.42 µg/L No EPA limit set | 23/28 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.05 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 10/28 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/28 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1 pCi/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 2/28 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.8000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 3/28 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.5400 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.1400 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.0200 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 28/28 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving California
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LEXINGTON PARK | 43,030 |
| COUNTRY LAKES | 3,016 |
| CEDAR COVE | 2,728 |
| WICOMICO SHORES | 1,262 |
| GREENBRIER | 1,161 |
| BRETON BAY | 1,012 |
| HUNTING QUARTERS | 715 |
| ROLLING ACRES | 699 |
| PINEY POINT | 672 |
| ST. CLEMENTS SHORES | 620 |
| CHARLOTTE HALL | 615 |
| FORREST FARM SUBDIVISION | 577 |
| LAUREL RIDGE | 560 |
| PERSIMMON HILLS | 514 |
| WILDERNESS RUN | 511 |
| BIRCH MANOR | 272 |
| GRANDVIEW HAVEN | 269 |
| PINEY POINT LANDINGS | 239 |
| VILLAGES AT LEONARDTOWN | 239 |
| FENWICK MANOR | 234 |
| LEONARDTOWN FARM | 193 |
| SOUTHGATE | 188 |
| KING & KENNEDY | 169 |
| HOLLAND FOREST | 139 |
| FOX MEADOW | 128 |
| HEARTS DESIRE | 65 |
| WILD GOOSE CREST SUBDIVISION | 65 |
| MULBERRY SOUTH | 65 |
Frequently asked questions about California tap water
Is California tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving California. 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 California?
28 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for California, Maryland to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in California's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in California include Fluoride, Barium, Chloroform, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). 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.