Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Santa Ana, California
Tap water in Santa Ana, California receives a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF SANTA ANA. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Santa Ana's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Santa Ana.
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 2.67 ppt, 2667x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
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.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.507 ppb, 127x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF SANTA ANA (system ID CA3010038) 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 Santa Ana
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Santa Ana'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.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 Santa Ana'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.33 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.67 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2667× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.507 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 127× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
18.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 123× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 92× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.99 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 83× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.39 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.985 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.29 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 43× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.96 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 33× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.33 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 23× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.08 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.08 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.73 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.69 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.71 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 6.3× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.028 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4.7× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.51 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.0× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.795 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
61.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0426 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.67 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
62.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.64 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.076 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.274 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.57 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.24 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.776 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.629 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.16 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.661 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.00811 ppb | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
42.3 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.341 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0248 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
22.2 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 CITY OF SANTA ANA.