Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CITY OF REDDING
CITY OF REDDING delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 89,628 residents in REDDING, California using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 530-224-6040.
Is REDDING tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF REDDING 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 89,628 residents in REDDING, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Dibromochloromethane, 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 REDDING 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 REDDING.
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.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 6.65 ppb, 1664x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.06 ppt, 1064x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 30.7 ppb, 512x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact CITY OF REDDING
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 REDDING
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
6.65 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 1664× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.06 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1064× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
30.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 512× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
27.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 180× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
13.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 133× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
23.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 60× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.01 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 50× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.92 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.214 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.04 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 7.4× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.55 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.2× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.169 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.134 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1.5× over |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
33.0 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.45 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.62 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
43.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.561 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.021 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.181 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.558 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.1 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.422 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.192 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.142 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.138 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0138 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
2.47 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.
CITY OF REDDING service area
This water system serves 1 community in Shasta County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for REDDING water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.