Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in IMPERIAL BEACH, California
Tap water in IMPERIAL BEACH, California receives a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CAL-AM WATER CORONADO. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in IMPERIAL BEACH's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving IMPERIAL BEACH.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)*, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
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 16.5 ppb, 275x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 31.8 ppb, 212x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CAL-AM WATER CORONADO (system ID CA3710001) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Contaminant above the legal limit | 08/01/2023 | Open |
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 IMPERIAL BEACH
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in IMPERIAL BEACH'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 IMPERIAL BEACH'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 (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 275× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
31.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 212× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.54 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 185× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
12.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 124× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.91 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 115× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
8.96 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.99 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Bromate* Disinfection byproduct |
1.38 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 14× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
3.52 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.8× over |
| Chlorite* Disinfection byproduct |
286.5 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.7× over |
| Uranium* Radiological |
2.07 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 4.8× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0506 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.5× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.174 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0838 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* PFAS |
0.104 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
80.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* PFAS |
0.096 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate* Disinfection byproduct |
0.0884 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.43 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
45.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.543 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.793 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium* Other |
0.0498 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0698 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.644 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)* PFAS |
0.38 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)* PFAS |
0.2 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)* PFAS |
0.104 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide* Other |
42.3 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0138 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.587 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
45.9 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 CAL-AM WATER CORONADO.