Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SANTA CRUZ, California
Tap water in SANTA CRUZ, California receives a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in SANTA CRUZ's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SANTA CRUZ.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 48.7 ppb, 812x 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 51.7 ppb, 345x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.0436 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT (system ID CA4410010) 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 CRUZ
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SANTA CRUZ'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 CRUZ'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 |
48.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 812× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
51.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 345× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
16.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 271× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.259 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 259× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
18.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 184× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.32 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 83× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
25.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.2 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 51× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.34 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.0436 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 11× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0808 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.808 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
245.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.133 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.127 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.103 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
21.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.09 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.42 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
4.63 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.066 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0359 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.00762 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.286 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.244 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.055 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.145 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
4.26 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 SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT.