Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ANA
CITY OF SANTA ANA delivers tap water graded F (47/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 310,539 residents in SANTA ANA, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 714-647-3387.
Is SANTA ANA tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF SANTA ANA 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 310,539 residents in SANTA ANA, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 20 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Uranium, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Bromoform, Radium, combined (-226 and -228)*. 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 SANTA ANA 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 SANTA ANA.
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 2.67 ppt, 2667x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
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.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.507 ppb, 127x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Contact CITY OF SANTA ANA
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 SANTA ANA
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.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.33 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.67 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2667× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.507 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 127× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
18.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 123× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 92× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.99 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 83× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.39 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.985 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.29 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 43× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.96 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 33× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.33 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 23× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.08 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.08 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.73 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.69 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.71 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 6.3× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.028 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4.7× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.51 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.0× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.795 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
61.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0426 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.67 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
62.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.64 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.076 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.274 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.57 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.24 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.776 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.629 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.16 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.661 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.00811 ppb | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
42.3 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.341 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0248 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
22.2 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 SANTA ANA service area
This water system serves 1 community in Orange County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SANTA ANA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.