Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SANTA CLARA, California
Tap water in SANTA CLARA, California receives a grade of D (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF SANTA CLARA. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in SANTA CLARA's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SANTA CLARA.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 23.5 ppb, 392x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 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.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 26.1 ppb, 174x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Recommended filters for SANTA CLARA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SANTA CLARA's water supply.
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 SANTA CLARA'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 (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
23.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 392× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
26.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 174× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.96 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 70× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.34 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 67× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.96 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 66× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.75 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
17.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.94 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.05 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 40× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.69 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 26× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
3.65 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 26× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.33 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
86.2 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.24 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
85.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.73 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.409 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.133 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.482 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.31 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.143 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.157 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
0.952 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 CLARA.