Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
SFPUC CITY DISTRIBUTION DIVISION
SFPUC CITY DISTRIBUTION DIVISION delivers tap water graded C (67/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 848,019 residents in BURLINGAME, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: 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 650-652-3100.
Is BURLINGAME tap water safe to drink?
SFPUC CITY DISTRIBUTION DIVISION delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 848,019 residents in BURLINGAME, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Nitrate*, Nitrate and nitrite*, Arsenic*, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Bromate*. 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 BURLINGAME residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SFPUC CITY DISTRIBUTION DIVISION.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 39.5 ppb, 658x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 34.4 ppb, 344x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 33.2 ppb, 222x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.0788 ppb.
Contact SFPUC CITY DISTRIBUTION DIVISION
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 BURLINGAME
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 67/100 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 |
39.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 658× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
34.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 344× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
33.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 222× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.57 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 96× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
17.1 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 86× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
30.4 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 76× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.33 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
3.28 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 23× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite* Inorganic |
2.95 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 21× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
0.0788 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 20× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.475 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.8× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0853 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.3× over |
| Bromate* Disinfection byproduct |
0.4 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 4.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
132.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.016 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium* Radiological |
0.21 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate* Disinfection byproduct |
0.332 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
9.16 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.4 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.549 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.132 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
2.34 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.952 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide* Other |
9.28 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total)* Heavy metal |
3.03 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.669 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Quinoline Other |
0.092 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.
SFPUC CITY DISTRIBUTION DIVISION service area
This water system serves 1 community in San Francisco County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BURLINGAME water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.