Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in CARLSBAD, California
Tap water in CARLSBAD, California receives a grade of F (59/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CARLSBAD MWD. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic* significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in CARLSBAD's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving CARLSBAD.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane 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 1.49 ppb, 373x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 14.3 ppb, 239x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CARLSBAD MWD (system ID CA3710005) 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 CARLSBAD
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in CARLSBAD'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 CARLSBAD'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 |
1.49 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 373× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
14.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 239× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
14.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 93× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.23 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 70× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.19 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 42× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.773 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Bromate* Disinfection byproduct |
2.39 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 24× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
3.91 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.8× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.22 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.1× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.101 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.1× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.486 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Uranium* Radiological |
1.68 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 3.9× over |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.19 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.2× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.55 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.1× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
0.145 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.0× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* PFAS |
0.25 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
168.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite* Inorganic |
0.04 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.8 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
60.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.3 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
37.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.67 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0291 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.834 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)* PFAS |
0.275 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide* Other |
160.7 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.578 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
24.5 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, 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 CARLSBAD MWD.