Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SANTEE, California
Tap water in SANTEE, California receives a grade of B (80/100) 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.
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 concernHaloacetic 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 concernHaloacetic 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 concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 17.8 ppb, 118x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for PADRE DAM MWD (system ID CA3710037) 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 SANTEE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SANTEE's water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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.