Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in SANTEE, California

Served by PADRE DAM MWD. 93,980 residents.

Average score 67/100
Utilities 1
Population 93,980
D
67/100
Below Average
ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Quick answer

Tap water in SANTEE, California receives a grade of D (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by PADRE DAM MWD. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?

What's in SANTEE's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SANTEE.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 36.2 ppb, 362x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 11.3 ppb, 189x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 17.8 ppb, 118x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Recommended filters for SANTEE

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SANTEE's water supply.

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 SANTEE'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 (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
36.2 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 362× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
11.3 ppb 0.06 189× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
17.8 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 118× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
5.64 ppb 0.06 94× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
5.63 ppb 0.1 56× over
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.552 ppb 0.03 18× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
4.02 ppb 0.4 10× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
1.18 ppb 0.2 5.9× over
Bromoform
Disinfection byproduct
2.43 ppb 0.5 4.9× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.388 ppb 0.1 3.9× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.043 ppb 0.02 2.2× over
Bromochloromethane
Other
0.085 ppb 0.06 1.4× over
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
83.6 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
3.39 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
1.53 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
0.986 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA)
PFAS
0.725 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.664 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
Lithium
Other
16.8 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 PADRE DAM MWD.

ZIP codes served

SANTEE's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: