Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SALINAS, California
Tap water in SALINAS, California receives a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by ALCO WATER SERVICE. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic 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 SALINAS's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SALINAS.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 5.6 ppb, 1400x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 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 3.44 ppb, 172x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Recommended filters for SALINAS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SALINAS's water supply.
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 SALINAS'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
5.6 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 1400× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
3.44 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 172× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
4.25 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 30× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.33 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 24× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.675 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
0.761 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 5.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
1021.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.61 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.0952 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
8.93 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0438 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
7.54 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
3.03 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
57.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
3.32 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
17.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.333 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
320.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
5.02 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.36 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
34.3 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 ALCO WATER SERVICE.