Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
SAN BERNARDINO CITY
SAN BERNARDINO CITY delivers tap water graded F (48/100) 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 F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
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.
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.
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.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 48/100 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.