Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Salinas, CA tap water
37 contaminants were measured in the Salinas, CA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 37
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- CA
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Salinas, CA's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 27 sources.
Source
- WELL 106-01 - RAW
- WELL 030-01 - RAW
- WELL 037-01 - RAW
- WELL 038-01 - RAW
- + 23 more
Treatment
- WELL STATION 37-01 CL2 DISINFECTION TRMT
- STATION 103 IX EFFLUENT
- STATION 103 CL2 DISINFECTION TRMT
- + 29 more
Distribution
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-based3 violations on record · most recent Jul 2010resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.45 NTUAverageSystem-wide | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 191 mg/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ColorA measure of visible tint in the water. | 1.6AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 254 mg/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.3AverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 809AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 513 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.47 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | Not detected ug/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected mg/LAverageGroundwater | 2 mg/LMCL | 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 |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected ug/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| BoronA naturally occurring element from rock and soil. | Not detected mg/LAverageGroundwater | 1 mg/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 67 mg/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, HexavalentHexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium. | 4.8 ug/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| GermaniumA trace metalloid found in some source water. | Not detected ug/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 23 ug/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 21 mg/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected ug/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 2.6 mg/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 65 mg/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Vanadium | 11 ug/LAverageGroundwater | 50 ug/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | Not detected 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. | 3.2 mg/LAverageGroundwater | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.27 mg/LAverageGroundwater | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 87 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 87 mg/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. | 4.5 pCi/LAverageGroundwater | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 4.9 pCi/LAverageGroundwater | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Free | 0.98 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 1.9 ug/LAverageAnnual Average | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | Not detected ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0MaximumDistribution System-Wide Highest Monthly | None set | None detected |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTBE | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Salinas, CA's water
+Is Salinas, CA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 37 contaminants measured in Salinas, CA's 2024 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 Salinas, CA tap water?
37 contaminants were measured in Salinas, CA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and inorganic chemicals. 10 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 Salinas, CA's 2024 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 Salinas, 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 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.