Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in WATSONVILLE, California
Tap water in WATSONVILLE, California receives a grade of D (62/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by WATSONVILLE, CITY OF. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in WATSONVILLE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving WATSONVILLE.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.54 ppt, 1539x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
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.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 7.2 ppb, 360x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.362 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for WATSONVILLE, CITY OF (system ID CA4410011) 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 WATSONVILLE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in WATSONVILLE'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 WATSONVILLE'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.54 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1539× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
7.2 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 360× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.362 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 90× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
3.67 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
7.69 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 51× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.56 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.61 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.62 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 19× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.469 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.668 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.4× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.45 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.26 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.2× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.609 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.185 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.17 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0309 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.64 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.97 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.59 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
6.33 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
2.48 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0485 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.16 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.53 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.474 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.326 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.00462 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
4.95 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.179 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
19.7 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 WATSONVILLE, CITY OF.