Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - LIVERMORE
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - LIVERMORE delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 60,414 residents in SAN JOSE, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic* significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 408-367-8490.
Is SAN JOSE tap water safe to drink?
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - LIVERMORE delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 60,414 residents in SAN JOSE, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 25 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic*, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Chromium (hexavalent), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromochloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS)*, Nitrate, Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate and nitrite, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Bromoform, Trichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Bromate*, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS)*, Uranium*, Chlorate, N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)*. 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 - LIVERMORE.
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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 2.69 ppt, 2688x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic* significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic* detected at 1.42 ppb, 355x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 35.5 ppb, 355x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - LIVERMORE
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.
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 50/100 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 |
2.69 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2688× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
1.42 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 355× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
35.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 355× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
18.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 313× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
4.39 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 220× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
31.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 213× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.9 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 195× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.63 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 144× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 100× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.78 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 93× over |
| Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS)* PFAS |
0.09 ppt | 0.001 | — | — | — | — | — | 90× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
4.45 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 32× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.22 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
3.77 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 27× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.43 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.09 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 12× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
5.67 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.13 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.87 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 9.6× over |
| Bromate* Disinfection byproduct |
0.241 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 2.4× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.141 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.3× over |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS)* PFAS |
2.12 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Uranium* Radiological |
0.65 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 1.5× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
217.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0× over |
| N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)* Other |
3.1 ppt | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0× over |
| Barium Heavy metal |
267.3 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
70.9 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Thallium* Heavy metal |
0.00804 ppb | 0.1 | 2.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.1 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0168 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium* Heavy metal |
0.741 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.3 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.606 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Beryllium* Heavy metal |
0.00893 ppb | 1.0 | 4.0 | — | — | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.162 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.236 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.000332 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.902 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.834 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.41 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA)* PFAS |
0.638 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.413 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.176 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide* Other |
227.4 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0161 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total)* Heavy metal |
0.254 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.653 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.109 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
6.05 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.
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE - LIVERMORE service area
This water system serves 1 community in Alameda County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SAN JOSE water
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