Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CITY OF SANTA CLARA
CITY OF SANTA CLARA delivers tap water graded C (67/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 130,746 residents in SANTA CLARA, California using surface water (purchased). 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 408-615-2018.
Is SANTA CLARA tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF SANTA CLARA 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 130,746 residents in SANTA CLARA, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Bromoform. 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 CLARA 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 CLARA.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 23.5 ppb, 392x 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 26.1 ppb, 174x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact CITY OF SANTA CLARA
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 CLARA
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 |
23.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 392× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
26.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 174× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.96 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 70× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.34 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 67× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.96 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 66× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.75 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
17.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.94 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.05 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 40× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.69 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 26× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
3.65 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 26× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.33 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
86.2 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.24 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
85.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.73 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.409 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.133 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.482 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.31 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.143 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.157 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
0.952 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 CLARA service area
This water system serves 1 community in Santa Clara County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SANTA CLARA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.