Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Bakersfield, California
Tap water in Bakersfield, California receives a grade of F (49/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Bakersfield's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Bakersfield.
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.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.8 ppb, 699x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.41 ppt, 410x 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF (system ID CA1510031) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for Bakersfield
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Bakersfield's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Bakersfield's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
2.8 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 699× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.41 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 410× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 281× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
11.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 76× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.25 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 42× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.211 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.92 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.619 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.98 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.59 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.75 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 13× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.06 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.314 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.4 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 10× over |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
0.00416 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.9× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.81 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 4.2× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.02 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.928 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.1× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.639 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
192.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
6.41 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0649 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0328 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
26.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.2 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.146 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) Volatile organic compound |
0.0138 ppb | 4.0 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00581 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0708 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.00217 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
0.362 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0544 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0115 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.331 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.025 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromomethane Other |
0.00441 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.105 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.109 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Naphthalene Other |
0.0127 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.00103 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF.