Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Fresno, California
Tap water in Fresno, California receives a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF FRESNO. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
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 concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.34 ppt, 1340x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.87 ppb, 469x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 35.5 ppb, 355x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF FRESNO (system ID CA1010007) 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 Fresno
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Fresno'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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.34 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1340× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.87 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 469× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
35.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 355× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.33 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 117× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 67× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
8.31 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.188 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
4.17 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 30× over |
| 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) Other |
0.043 ppb | 0.0017 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.36 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 23× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.84 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 20× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
7.11 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 17× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.52 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.65 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.25 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.767 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 8.5× over |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
0.00422 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.0× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.69 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.6× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.385 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.9× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.11 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.0945 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
236.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Vanadium Other |
20.5 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.016 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.181 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.179 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0649 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
11.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
37.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0176 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.72 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.035 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.000633 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.09 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
1.05 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.02 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.00151 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.661 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.327 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.294 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.000576 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.196 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.002 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
1.21 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.143 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0485 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Ethinyl estradiol Other |
0.003 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0903 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0108 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.00032 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.001 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 FRESNO.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Fresno's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: