Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CAL-AM WATER CORONADO
CAL-AM WATER CORONADO delivers tap water graded F (52/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 106,000 residents in IMPERIAL BEACH, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 619-446-5703.
Is IMPERIAL BEACH tap water safe to drink?
CAL-AM WATER CORONADO delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 106,000 residents in IMPERIAL BEACH, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane, Bromoform, Dichloroacetic acid, Bromate*, Chloroform, Chlorite*, Uranium*, Chromium (hexavalent), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromochloromethane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)*. 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 IMPERIAL BEACH 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 CORONADO.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)*, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 16.5 ppb, 275x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 31.8 ppb, 212x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact CAL-AM WATER CORONADO
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Recommended water filters for IMPERIAL BEACH
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.
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 52/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 275× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
31.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 212× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.54 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 185× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
12.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 124× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.91 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 115× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
8.96 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.99 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Bromate* Disinfection byproduct |
1.38 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 14× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
3.52 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.8× over |
| Chlorite* Disinfection byproduct |
286.5 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.7× over |
| Uranium* Radiological |
2.07 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 4.8× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0506 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.5× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.174 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0838 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* PFAS |
0.104 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
80.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* PFAS |
0.096 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate* Disinfection byproduct |
0.0884 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.43 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
45.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.543 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.793 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium* Other |
0.0498 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0698 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.644 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)* PFAS |
0.38 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)* PFAS |
0.2 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)* PFAS |
0.104 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide* Other |
42.3 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0138 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.587 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
45.9 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 CORONADO service area
This water system serves 1 community in San Diego County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for IMPERIAL BEACH water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.