Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CITY OF FRESNO
CITY OF FRESNO delivers tap water graded F (47/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 545,716 residents in FRESNO, California using surface water. 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 559-621-5315.
Is FRESNO tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF FRESNO delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 545,716 residents in FRESNO, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 22 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chromium (hexavalent), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Nitrate, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Bromodichloromethane, Nitrate and nitrite, Uranium, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Dibromochloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Chlorate. 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 FRESNO residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CITY OF FRESNO.
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 1.34 ppt, 1340x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.87 ppb, 469x 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 CITY OF FRESNO
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 FRESNO
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 47/100 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 |
1.34 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1340× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.87 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 469× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
35.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 355× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.33 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 117× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 67× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
8.31 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.188 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
4.17 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 30× over |
| 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) Other |
0.043 ppb | 0.0017 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.36 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 23× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.84 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 20× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
7.11 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 17× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.52 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.65 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.25 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.767 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 8.5× over |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
0.00422 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.0× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.69 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.6× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.385 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.9× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.11 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.0945 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
236.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Vanadium Other |
20.5 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.016 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.181 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.179 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0649 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
11.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
37.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0176 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.72 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.035 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.000633 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.09 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
1.05 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.02 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.00151 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.661 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.327 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.294 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.000576 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.196 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.002 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
1.21 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.143 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0485 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Ethinyl estradiol Other |
0.003 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0903 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0108 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.00032 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.001 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
CITY OF FRESNO service area
This water system serves 1 community in Fresno County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
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