Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF
BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF delivers tap water graded F (49/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 160,144 residents in BAKERSFIELD, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 408-367-8593.
Is BAKERSFIELD tap water safe to drink?
BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (49/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 160,144 residents in BAKERSFIELD, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 20 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Bromodichloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate and nitrite, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, Uranium, Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF (system ID CA1510031) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for BAKERSFIELD residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.8 ppb, 699x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.41 ppt, 410x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
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.
Contact BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF
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 BAKERSFIELD
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 49/100 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 |
2.8 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 699× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.41 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 410× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 281× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
11.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 76× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.25 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 42× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.211 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.92 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.619 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.98 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.59 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.75 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 13× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.06 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.314 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.4 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 10× over |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
0.00416 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.9× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.81 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 4.2× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.02 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.928 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.1× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.639 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
192.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
6.41 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0649 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0328 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
26.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.2 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.146 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) Volatile organic compound |
0.0138 ppb | 4.0 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00581 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0708 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.00217 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
0.362 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0544 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0115 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.331 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.025 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromomethane Other |
0.00441 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.105 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.109 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Naphthalene Other |
0.0127 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.00103 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | 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.
BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Kern County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BAKERSFIELD water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.