Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - BEAR GULCH
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - BEAR GULCH delivers tap water graded C (67/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 61,431 residents in SAN JOSE, California using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 408-367-8593.
Is SAN JOSE tap water safe to drink?
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - BEAR GULCH delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 61,431 residents in SAN JOSE, drawing from surface water. Despite being legal under US EPA standards, this water would fail the European Union's Drinking Water Directive, primarily due to haloacetic acids (haa9) significantly above health guideline.
Public testing data identifies 9 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Manganese. 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 SAN JOSE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - BEAR GULCH.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 29.2 ppb, 487x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 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.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 38.6 ppb, 257x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - BEAR GULCH
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 SAN JOSE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
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 67/100 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 (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
29.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 487× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
38.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 257× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 127× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
36.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 90× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
18.0 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 90× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.27 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.359 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.6× over |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
217.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Fails EU |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0199 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
111.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0346 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0238 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.98 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.415 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.288 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.122 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.203 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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.
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - BEAR GULCH service area
This water system serves 1 community in San Mateo County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SAN JOSE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.