Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN
SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 100,000 residents in SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Radon significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 530-543-6258.
Is SOUTH LAKE TAHOE tap water safe to drink?
SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN 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 100,000 residents in SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Radon, Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Chromium (hexavalent), Uranium, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite. 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 SOUTH LAKE TAHOE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 4.6 ppb, 1151x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Radon significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernRadon detected at 1229.63 pCi/L, 820x above the EWG health guideline of 1.5 pCi/L.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.475 ppt, 475x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Contact SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN
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 SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
4.6 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 1151× over |
| Radon Radiological |
1229.63 pCi/L | 1.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 820× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.475 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 475× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.427 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
5.51 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 13× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.633 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.0× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.344 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.7× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.19 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 3.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.413 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 1.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.192 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.4× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.186 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
83.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
13.1 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.91 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) Volatile organic compound |
0.102 ppb | 4.0 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.591 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.26 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.55 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.625 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.221 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.283 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.124 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
8.69 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| DCPA mono- and di-acid degradates Other |
0.00478 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0436 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
0.83 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.
SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN service area
This water system serves 1 community in El Dorado County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SOUTH LAKE TAHOE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.