Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
ALCO WATER SERVICE
ALCO WATER SERVICE delivers tap water graded D (63/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 56,253 residents in SALINAS, California using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 831-424-0441.
Is SALINAS tap water safe to drink?
ALCO WATER SERVICE delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including arsenic significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 56,253 residents in SALINAS, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 9 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite, Nitrate, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chlorate, Bromoform. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for SALINAS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ALCO WATER SERVICE.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 5.6 ppb, 1400x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 36.2 ppb, 362x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 3.44 ppb, 172x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Contact ALCO WATER SERVICE
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for SALINAS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 63/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
5.6 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 1400× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
3.44 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 172× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
4.25 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 30× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.33 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 24× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.675 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
0.761 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 5.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
1021.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.61 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.0952 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
8.93 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0438 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
7.54 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
3.03 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
57.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
3.32 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
17.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.333 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
320.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
5.02 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.36 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
34.3 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
ALCO WATER SERVICE service area
This water system serves 1 community in Monterey County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SALINAS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.