Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California
Tap water in SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California receives a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Radon significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in SOUTH LAKE TAHOE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SOUTH LAKE TAHOE.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 4.6 ppb, 1151x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Radon significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernRadon detected at 1229.63 pCi/L, 820x above the EWG health guideline of 1.5 pCi/L.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.475 ppt, 475x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Recommended filters for SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SOUTH LAKE TAHOE's water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 SOUTH LAKE TAHOE'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
4.6 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 1151× over |
| Radon Radiological |
1229.63 pCi/L | 1.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 820× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.475 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 475× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.427 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
5.51 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 13× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.633 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.0× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.344 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.7× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.19 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 3.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.413 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 1.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.192 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.4× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.186 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
83.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
13.1 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.91 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) Volatile organic compound |
0.102 ppb | 4.0 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.591 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.26 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.55 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.625 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.221 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.283 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.124 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
8.69 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| DCPA mono- and di-acid degradates Other |
0.00478 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0436 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
0.83 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 SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN.