Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in City of Merced — Merced, Ca, CA tap water
27 contaminants were measured in the City of Merced — Merced, Ca, CA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 27
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- CA
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based2 violations on record · most recent May 2001resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 3.39 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.17 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.23 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.23 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detected ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | None detected |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 28.5 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, HexavalentHexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium. | 3.53 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 10.7 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 23.7 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 2.83 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.12 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.67 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.56 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 0.62 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 0.42 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.1 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.23 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.79 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanoic acidPerfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.78 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.28 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 2.17 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.1 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 5.64 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 2 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pce | 0.16 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bicarbonate | 143 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 115.4 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about City of Merced — Merced, Ca, CA's water
+Is City of Merced — Merced, Ca, CA tap water safe to drink in 2023?
Every one of the 27 contaminants measured in City of Merced — Merced, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in City of Merced — Merced, Ca, CA tap water?
27 contaminants were measured in City of Merced — Merced, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and radionuclides. 7 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from City of Merced — Merced, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is City of Merced — Merced, Ca, CA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.