Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY
CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY delivers tap water graded F (46/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 92,450 residents in PACIFIC GROVE, California using groundwater under direct influence. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 831-646-3241.
Is PACIFIC GROVE tap water safe to drink?
CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (46/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 92,450 residents in PACIFIC GROVE, drawing from groundwater under direct influence.
Public testing data identifies 20 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Bromoform, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate and nitrite, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Uranium. 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 PACIFIC GROVE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY.
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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.39 ppt, 1391x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.54 ppb, 636x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 24.2 ppb, 403x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY
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 PACIFIC GROVE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
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 46/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.39 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1391× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.54 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 636× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
24.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 403× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
42.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 284× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
13.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 223× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
12.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 123× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.59 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 120× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.79 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
12.6 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.89 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.141 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 24× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.314 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.25 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 16× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.17 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 13× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
4.26 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.78 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.9× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.486 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.5× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.11 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.2× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.86 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 2.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
188.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.36 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.59 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.00458 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.19 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.595 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.33 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.135 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.56 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.17 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.31 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.469 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.334 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.284 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2-Methoxyethanol Other |
0.1 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.209 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
20.6 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.
CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY 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 PACIFIC GROVE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.