Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in PACIFIC GROVE, California
Tap water in PACIFIC GROVE, California receives a grade of F (46/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in PACIFIC GROVE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving PACIFIC GROVE.
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 1.39 ppt, 1391x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.54 ppb, 636x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 24.2 ppb, 403x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Recommended filters for PACIFIC GROVE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in PACIFIC GROVE'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.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 PACIFIC GROVE'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 |
1.39 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1391× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.54 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 636× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
24.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 403× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
42.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 284× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
13.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 223× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
12.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 123× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.59 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 120× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.79 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
12.6 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.89 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.141 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 24× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.314 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.25 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 16× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.17 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 13× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
4.26 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.78 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.9× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.486 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.5× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.11 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.2× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.86 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 2.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
188.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.36 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.59 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.00458 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.19 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.595 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.33 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.135 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.56 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.17 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.31 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.469 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.334 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.284 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2-Methoxyethanol Other |
0.1 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.209 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
20.6 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 COMPANY - MONTEREY.