Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Fresno, California
Tap water in Fresno, California receives a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by City of Fresno Water Department. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic detected; Chromium-6 detected; Radium-228 detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database, and Fresno's published Consumer Confidence Report.
What's in Fresno's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Fresno.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPFOA, PFOA detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.3 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.11 ppb.
Radium-228 detected
Moderate concernRadium-228 detected at 0.47 pCi/L.
Recommended filters for Fresno
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Fresno's 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.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Reverse Osmosis or water softener
$249-$750RO removes radium effectively; ion-exchange water softeners also reduce radium concentration.
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 Fresno'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA Organic |
13.6 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 2023 | EPA violation |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.52 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2023 | 380× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
15.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2023 | 156× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
51.2 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 85× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.47 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2024 | 25× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.5 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2024 | 11× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.138 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2022 | 6.9× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.47 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 25× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.5 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 11× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA Organic |
13.6 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | EPA violation |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.52 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 380× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
15.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 156× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
51.2 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 85× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.138 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 6.9× over |
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 Fresno Water Department.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants or test results.