Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

Stockton Water Authority

Serving 312,000 residents in Stockton, California .

National rank 55th percentile
California rank 80th percentile
Data confidence High
Quick answer

Stockton Water Authority delivers tap water graded C (65/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 312,000 residents in Stockton, California using surface water blended from the Delta/Calaveras River. The most significant water quality concerns are: Lead detected in source water; Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (213) 840-8623.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Sample data notice: Some or all data on this page is illustrative sample data, not live measurements from this utility. See our disclaimer. For authoritative info, refer to the utility's published Consumer Confidence Report.
312,000
People served
1
City served
15
Contaminants detected
15
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)
2024
Most recent test

Is Stockton tap water safe to drink?

Stockton Water Authority delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (65/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.

The utility serves 312,000 residents in Stockton, drawing from surface water blended (Delta/Calaveras River) and disinfecting with chloramine.

Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Nitrate, Nitrate, Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Nitrate, Lead, Lead, Lead. 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.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for Stockton Water Authority.

Lead detected in source water

Severe concern

Lead detected at 1.1 ppb. EWG considers no level of lead safe; EPA's action level is 15 ppb.

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) detected at 24.2 ppb, 242x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Chromium-6 detected

Moderate concern

Chromium-6 detected at 0.24 ppb.

Contact Stockton Water Authority

Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.

Water Quality Contact

For questions about contaminants, test results, or your Consumer Confidence Report.

OfficeStockton Water Quality Division
DepartmentWater Quality Compliance
Direct line(213) 853-6748

Treatment Plant

Location7894 Treatment Plant Road, Stockton, CA
Operator certificationClass A (State certified)
Treatment capacity62 million gallons/day

Recommended water filters for Stockton

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

NSF/ANSI 53 certified for lead removal

$80-$750

NSF 53 is the gold standard certification for lead removal. Required when lead is a documented concern.

Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana AQ-5300 Under-Sink Filter
$180-$240 NSF 42, 53, 401
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Chromium-6 requires reverse osmosis for reliable removal. Standard carbon filters do not address it.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

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 65/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
23 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
5 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
7 / 10

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 →

Sample test dates: Water samples were collected between 2022 and 2024. Test dates per contaminant are shown in the table below.

Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
24.2 ppb 0.1 60 60 2022 242× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
19.5 ppb 0.1 60 60 2024 195× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
19.4 ppb 0.1 60 60 2023 194× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
56.8 ppb 0.6 80 100 2023 95× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
52.6 ppb 0.6 80 100 2024 88× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
45.2 ppb 0.6 80 100 2022 75× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
2.09 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2022 15× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
1.8 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2024 13× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.24 ppb 0.02 0.02 2024 12× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.229 ppb 0.02 0.02 2023 11× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.208 ppb 0.02 0.02 2022 10× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
1.26 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2023 9.0× over
Lead
Heavy metal
1.1 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2024
Lead
Heavy metal
1.33 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2023
Lead
Heavy metal
0.83 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2 2022
Contaminant Detected (2024) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
52.6 ppb 0.6 80 100 88× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
19.5 ppb 0.1 60 60 195× over
Lead
Heavy metal
1.1 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.24 ppb 0.02 0.02 12× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
1.8 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 13× over
Contaminant Detected (2023) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
56.8 ppb 0.6 80 100 95× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
19.4 ppb 0.1 60 60 194× over
Lead
Heavy metal
1.33 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.229 ppb 0.02 0.02 11× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
1.26 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 9.0× over
Contaminant Detected (2022) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
45.2 ppb 0.6 80 100 75× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
24.2 ppb 0.1 60 60 242× over
Lead
Heavy metal
0.83 ppb 0 15 5 10 0.2
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.208 ppb 0.02 0.02 10× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
2.09 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 15× over

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, and Stockton Water Authority's Consumer Confidence Report.

Stockton Water Authority service area

This water system serves 1 community in San Joaquin County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
CA8645580
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water blended (Delta/Calaveras River)
Disinfection method
Chloramine
Service connections
99,840
Service area
Stockton, San Joaquin County, California