Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SAN BERNARDINO CITY
SAN BERNARDINO CITY delivers tap water graded D (57/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 214,665 residents in SAN BERNARDIN0, California using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 909-384-5091.
Is SAN BERNARDIN0 tap water safe to drink?
SAN BERNARDINO CITY delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 214,665 residents in SAN BERNARDIN0, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dibromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane, Uranium, Bromoform, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for SAN BERNARDINO CITY (system ID CA3610039) 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.
Quick actions for SAN BERNARDIN0 residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SAN BERNARDINO CITY.
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 0.544 ppt, 544x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.08 ppb, 521x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 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.
Contact SAN BERNARDINO CITY
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for SAN BERNARDIN0
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 57/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
0.544 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 544× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.08 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 521× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.14 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 57× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
4.23 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 30× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
1.57 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
2.71 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.988 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.9× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.483 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.1× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.92 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 6.8× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.968 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.9× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.0971 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0453 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.093 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1.0× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.161 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.276 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
52.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.045 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.04 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
2.81 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0202 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.000395 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.678 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.404 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0393 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.342 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.385 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.448 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.000651 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.000351 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.054 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Asbestos Other |
0.1 | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0416 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane Other |
1.41 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.414 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
0.414 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
SAN BERNARDINO CITY service area
This water system serves 1 community in San Bernardino County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SAN BERNARDIN0 water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.