# Salinas, CA — Drinking Water Quality (2024)

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

- Page: https://www.thewatermap.com/water/ca/salinas/2024
- JSON API: https://www.thewatermap.com/api/water/ca/salinas/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: 37
- Contaminants with a federal limit: 28
- 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 | 0.98 mg/L (Average) | System-wide | 4 mg/L (MRDL) | Within the limit |
| HAA5 | Disinfection byproducts | Not detected ug/L (Average) | Annual Average | 60 ug/L (MCL) | None detected |
| TTHM | Disinfection byproducts | 1.9 ug/L (Average) | Annual Average | 80 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Chloride | Inorganic chemicals | 87 mg/L (Average) | System-wide | 500 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Fluoride | Inorganic chemicals | 0.27 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | 2 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Nitrate | Inorganic chemicals | 3.2 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | 10 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Sulfate | Inorganic chemicals | 87 mg/L (Average) | System-wide | 500 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Aluminum | Metals | Not detected ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 200 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Arsenic | Metals | Not detected ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | 10 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Barium | Metals | Not detected mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | 1 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Boron | Metals | Not detected mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | 1 mg/L (NL) | Within the limit |
| Calcium | Metals | 67 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, Hexavalent | Metals | 4.8 ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | 10 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Copper | Metals | 0.47 mg/L (90th percentile) | At the tap | 1.3 mg/L (Action level) | Within the limit |
| Germanium | Metals | Not detected ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Iron | Metals | Not detected ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 300 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Lead | Metals | Not detected ug/L (90th percentile) | At the tap | 15 ug/L (Action level) | None detected |
| Lithium | Metals | 23 ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Magnesium | Metals | 21 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Manganese | Metals | Not detected ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 50 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Nickel | Metals | Not detected ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | 100 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Potassium | Metals | 2.6 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Selenium | Metals | Not detected ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | 50 ug/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Sodium | Metals | 65 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Vanadium | Metals | 11 ug/L (Average) | Groundwater | 50 ug/L (NL) | Within the limit |
| Zinc | Metals | Not detected mg/L (Average) | System-wide | 5 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Escherichia coli (E. coli) | Microbial | 0 (Maximum) | Distribution System-Wide Highest Monthly | 0 (MCL) | None detected |
| Alkalinity | Physical & aggregate | 191 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Color | Physical & aggregate | 1.6 (Average) | System-wide | 15 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Hardness | Physical & aggregate | 254 mg/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| pH | Physical & aggregate | 7.3 (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific Conductance | Physical & aggregate | 809 (Average) | System-wide | 1600 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Total Dissolved Solids | Physical & aggregate | 513 mg/L (Average) | System-wide | 1000 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Turbidity | Physical & aggregate | 0.45 NTU (Average) | System-wide | 5 NTU (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 4.5 pCi/L (Average) | Groundwater | 15 pCi/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Uranium | Radionuclides | 4.9 pCi/L (Average) | Groundwater | 20 pCi/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| MTBE | VOCs & pesticides | Not detected ug/L (Average) | System-wide | 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.
- **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.
- **Chloride** — A naturally occurring salt compound. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a salty taste and can corrode pipes.
- **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.
- **Sulfate** — A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. No health-based federal limit; high levels can have a laxative effect and a bitter taste.
- **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.
- **Germanium** — A trace metalloid found in some source water. Not federally regulated; monitored occasionally as a trace element.
- **Iron** — A naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; causes rusty color, staining, and metallic taste.
- **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.
- **Manganese** — A naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. No enforceable federal limit; high levels stain fixtures and laundry and can affect taste, with a health advisory for infants.
- **Nickel** — A metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure can cause skin and other effects; monitored under EPA rules.
- **Potassium** — A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. Not federally regulated for health.
- **Selenium** — A trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Essential in tiny amounts, but long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause hair and fingernail loss and circulatory problems.
- **Sodium** — A naturally occurring salt component. Not federally regulated for health; relevant for people on sodium-restricted diets.
- **Zinc** — A naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a metallic taste.
- **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.
- **Alkalinity** — A measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. Not federally regulated for health; relevant to corrosion control and treatment.
- **Color** — A measure of visible tint in the water. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard.
- **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.
- **Specific Conductance** — A measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. Not federally regulated for health; used as a proxy for total dissolved solids.
- **Total Dissolved Solids** — Total dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels affect taste and hardness.
- **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.
- **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.

## 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._