Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in DALY CITY, California
Tap water in DALY CITY, California receives a grade of D (69/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF DALY CITY. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in DALY CITY's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving DALY CITY.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 23.6 ppb, 394x 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.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 4.84 ppb, 242x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF DALY CITY (system ID CA4110013) 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 DALY CITY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in DALY CITY'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.
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 DALY CITY'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
23.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 394× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
4.84 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 242× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
33.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 226× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
11.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 119× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
19.4 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 97× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
31.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 79× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.64 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.08 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 22× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.692 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.9× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.103 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
113.2 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.046 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.03 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.35 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.144 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0884 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
4.06 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
1.13 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 CITY OF DALY CITY.