# Bakersfield, CA — Drinking Water Quality (2024)

> Contaminant levels for the Bakersfield, CA public water system from its 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, compared to federal limits.

- Page: https://www.thewatermap.com/water/ca/bakersfield/2024
- JSON API: https://www.thewatermap.com/api/water/ca/bakersfield/2024
- Source: the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- Verification: transcribed by a model, cross-checked by a second model, approved before publishing
- Reporting year: 2024
- Contaminants measured: 40
- Contaminants with a federal limit: 25
- Contaminants at or above the federal limit: 0
- Part of The Water Map — https://www.thewatermap.com

## Contaminants measured

| Contaminant | Category | Measured level | Sampling context | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Disinfectants | 1.2 mg/L (Average) | System-wide | 4 mg/L (MRDL) | Within the limit |
| HAA5 | Disinfection byproducts | 40 ug/L (Average) | Annual Average | 60 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Perchlorate | Disinfection byproducts | 2 mg/L (Average) | Kcwa | 6 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| TTHM | Disinfection byproducts | 64 ug/L (Average) | Annual Average | 80 ug/L (MCL) | Approaching the limit |
| Fluoride | Inorganic chemicals | 0.2 mg/L (Average) | Surface Water | 2 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Nitrate | Inorganic chemicals | 1.5 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | 10 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Aluminum | Metals | 91 ug/L (Average) | Kcwa | 200 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Arsenic | Metals | Not detected ug/L (Average) | Kcwa | 10 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Barium | Metals | Not detected mg/L (Average) | Kcwa | 1 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Boron | Metals | 0.15 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | 1 mg/L (NL) | Within the limit |
| Calcium | Metals | 34 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, Hexavalent | Metals | 0.48 ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | 10 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Copper | Metals | 0.11 mg/L (90th percentile) | At the tap | 1.3 mg/L (Action level) | Within the limit |
| Lead | Metals | Not detected ug/L (90th percentile) | At the tap | 15 ug/L (Action level) | None detected |
| Lithium | Metals | 12 ug/L (Average) | Surface Water | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Magnesium | Metals | 5.54 mg/L (Average) | Kcwa | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Potassium | Metals | 2.59 mg/L (Average) | Kcwa | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Sodium | Metals | 32.4 mg/L (Average) | Kcwa | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Vanadium | Metals | 7.3 ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | 50 ug/L (NL) | Within the limit |
| Escherichia coli (E. coli) | Microbial | 0 (Maximum) | Distribution System-Wide Highest Monthly | 0 (MCL) | None detected |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 0.18 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | 500 ng/L (NL) | Within the limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 0.07 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 0.8 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | 3 ng/L (NL) | Within the limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 0.32 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorononanoic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 0.01 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 0.57 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBA | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 0.15 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFOA | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | Not detected ng/L (Average) | Surface Water | 5.1 ng/L (NL) | Within the limit |
| PFOS | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | Not detected ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | 6.5 ng/L (NL) | Within the limit |
| Alkalinity | Physical & aggregate | 96 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Hardness | Physical & aggregate | 109 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| pH | Physical & aggregate | 7.8 (Average) | Surface Water | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOC | Physical & aggregate | 2.2 mg/L (Maximum) | Kcwa | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Turbidity | Physical & aggregate | 0.111 NTU (Maximum) | Surface Water | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | Not detected pCi/L (Average) | Groundwater | 0.019 pCi/L (Public health goal) | Within the limit |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 1.33 pCi/L (Average) | Kcwa | 15 pCi/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Uranium | Radionuclides | 1.3 pCi/L (Average) | Groundwater | 20 pCi/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| 1,2,3-TCP | VOCs & pesticides | Not detected ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | 5 ng/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Tetrachloroethylene | VOCs & pesticides | Not detected ug/L (Average) | Surface Water | 5 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Trichloroethylene | VOCs & pesticides | Not detected ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | 5 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |

## What these contaminants are

- **Chlorine** — A disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. Effective and necessary, but high residual levels can cause taste and odor issues; the EPA caps the residual disinfectant level.
- **HAA5** — Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is associated with an increased cancer risk.
- **Perchlorate** — A chemical used in rocket fuel and fireworks that can also form during disinfection. Can interfere with thyroid hormone production; has no national enforceable limit but is regulated in some states.
- **TTHM** — Total trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is linked to liver, kidney, and central-nervous-system effects and increased cancer risk.
- **Fluoride** — A mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. Beneficial at low levels, but long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause bone disease and tooth mottling.
- **Nitrate** — A compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. Levels above the federal limit can cause 'blue baby syndrome,' a serious oxygen-transport condition in infants.
- **Aluminum** — A common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels can discolor water.
- **Arsenic** — A naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. A known human carcinogen; long-term exposure is linked to skin, bladder, and lung cancer.
- **Barium** — A metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can raise blood pressure.
- **Boron** — A naturally occurring element from rock and soil. No enforceable federal limit; the EPA has issued a health advisory level.
- **Calcium** — A naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling and taste.
- **Chromium, Hexavalent** — Hexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium. A known carcinogen by inhalation; regulated nationally only within the total-chromium limit, with stricter limits in some states.
- **Copper** — A metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. Short-term exposure causes stomach distress; long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.
- **Lead** — A toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. There is no safe level of lead; it harms brain development in children and raises blood pressure in adults. The EPA sets an action level, not a health goal above zero.
- **Lithium** — A naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. No enforceable federal limit; on the EPA contaminant candidate list for further study.
- **Magnesium** — A naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling and taste.
- **Potassium** — A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. Not federally regulated for health.
- **Sodium** — A naturally occurring salt component. Not federally regulated for health; relevant for people on sodium-restricted diets.
- **Escherichia coli (E. coli)** — Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. Its presence in drinking water indicates fecal contamination and a real risk of waterborne illness.
- **Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid** — Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' Has no standalone limit but is part of the EPA PFAS Hazard Index that limits PFAS in combination.
- **Perfluoroheptanoic acid** — Perfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' Monitored under EPA rules; persistent in the environment.
- **Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid** — Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' Regulated by the EPA at 10 parts per trillion and included in the PFAS Hazard Index.
- **Perfluorohexanoic acid** — Perfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' Monitored under EPA rules; persistent and widely detected.
- **Perfluorononanoic acid** — Perfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' Regulated by the EPA at 10 parts per trillion and included in the PFAS Hazard Index.
- **Perfluoropentanoic acid** — Perfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' Monitored under EPA rules; persistent in the environment.
- **PFBA** — Perfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' Monitored under EPA rules; persistent in the environment and the human body.
- **PFOA** — Perfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. Linked to cancer, liver damage, and immune effects; the EPA set an enforceable limit of 4 parts per trillion.
- **PFOS** — Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. Linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and immune effects; the EPA set an enforceable limit of 4 parts per trillion.
- **Alkalinity** — A measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. Not federally regulated for health; relevant to corrosion control and treatment.
- **Hardness** — A measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling, soap use, and taste.
- **pH** — A measure of how acidic or basic the water is. Regulated only as a secondary standard; very low or high pH can corrode pipes or affect taste.
- **TOC** — Total organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. Not harmful itself, but it is the raw material that forms disinfection byproducts; removal is a treatment requirement.
- **Turbidity** — A measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. High turbidity can shelter microbes from disinfection; the EPA enforces it through a treatment-technique standard.
- **Combined Radium** — Combined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases the risk of bone cancer.
- **Gross Alpha** — Gross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases cancer risk.
- **Uranium** — A naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the kidneys and increase cancer risk.
- **Tetrachloroethylene** — An industrial solvent (PCE) used in dry cleaning and degreasing. A likely human carcinogen; long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the liver and kidneys.
- **Trichloroethylene** — An industrial solvent (TCE) used in metal degreasing. A known human carcinogen; long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the liver.

## How to read this

- A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
- 'Federal limit' is the EPA standard (MCL, action level, treatment technique, etc.) that the measured level is compared against.
- 'At or above the federal limit' means the utility's own reported figure met or exceeded that standard.

_Figures are the utility's own published numbers. Generated 2026-05-25 from thewatermap.com._