Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SAN JOSE WATER
SAN JOSE WATER delivers tap water graded F (45/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 1,039,920 residents in SAN JOSE, California using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 408-918-7254.
Is SAN JOSE tap water safe to drink?
SAN JOSE WATER delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (45/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 1,039,920 residents in SAN JOSE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 20 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dibromoacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Arsenic, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Bromoform, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Uranium. 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 JOSE WATER (system ID CA4310011) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment not met | 06/01/2023 | Open |
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 JOSE 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 JOSE WATER.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 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 2.8 ppt, 2802x 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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 16.5 ppb, 276x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.47 ppb.
Contact SAN JOSE WATER
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 JOSE
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.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 45/100 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 |
2.8 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2802× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 276× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
35.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 234× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.11 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 137× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.53 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 125× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.47 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 118× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.1 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 101× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.39 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 69× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.376 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.08 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 51× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.86 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
9.93 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.33 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 24× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.61 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 19× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
7.56 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.77 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.9× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.12 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.5× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.171 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1.9× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.69 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
113.9 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
127.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.66 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.00458 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane Other |
0.0199 ppb | 0.3 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
2.9e-05 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.96 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.01 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.741 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
7.47 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.163 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.325 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.0817 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.429 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.855 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.294 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.095 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.027 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
7.6e-05 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.01 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane Other |
0.0625 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0355 ppb | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Asbestos Other |
0.02 | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0805 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
1.18 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 JOSE WATER service area
This water system serves 1 community in Santa Clara County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SAN JOSE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.