Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT
SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water graded D (61/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 94,626 residents in SANTA CRUZ, California using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 831-420-5214.
Is SANTA CRUZ tap water safe to drink?
SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 94,626 residents in SANTA CRUZ, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Trichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Arsenic, Chromium (hexavalent), Bromoform, Chlorate. 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 SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT (system ID CA4410010) 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 SANTA CRUZ residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 48.7 ppb, 812x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 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.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 51.7 ppb, 345x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.0436 ppb.
Contact SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT
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 SANTA CRUZ
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 61/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
48.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 812× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
51.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 345× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
16.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 271× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.259 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 259× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
18.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 184× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.32 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 83× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
25.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.2 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 51× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.34 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.0436 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 11× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0808 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.808 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
245.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.133 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.127 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.103 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
21.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.09 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.42 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
4.63 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.066 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0359 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.00762 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.286 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.244 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.055 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.145 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
4.26 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.
SANTA CRUZ WATER DEPARTMENT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Santa Cruz County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SANTA CRUZ water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.