Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SWEETWATER AUTHORITY
SWEETWATER AUTHORITY delivers tap water graded C (68/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 191,282 residents in CHULA VISTA, California using surface water. 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 619-409-6701.
Is CHULA VISTA tap water safe to drink?
SWEETWATER AUTHORITY delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (68/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 191,282 residents in CHULA VISTA, 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), Dibromoacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Arsenic, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Bromoform, Uranium, Chromium (hexavalent), 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 SWEETWATER AUTHORITY (system ID CA3710025) 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 CHULA VISTA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SWEETWATER AUTHORITY.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 30.0 ppb, 500x 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 39.3 ppb, 262x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.524 ppb.
Contact SWEETWATER AUTHORITY
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 CHULA VISTA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
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 68/100 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 |
30.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 500× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
39.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 262× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.42 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 247× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
11.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 195× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
13.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 137× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.524 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 131× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
8.73 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 44× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.96 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.05 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
6.85 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.13 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 2.6× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0343 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
275.1 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.0576 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0502 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
21.7 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
4.08 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0112 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.32 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
33.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
21.1 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.337 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.087 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.684 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
208.9 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.507 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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.
SWEETWATER AUTHORITY service area
This water system serves 1 community in San Diego County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for CHULA VISTA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.