Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in San Francisco SFPUC, CA tap water
31 contaminants were measured in the San Francisco SFPUC, CA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 31
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- CA
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
San Francisco SFPUC, CA's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 7 sources.
Source
- ZOO
- LAKE MERCED WELL
- WEST SUNSET WELL
- SOUTH SUNSET WELL
- + 3 more
Treatment
- WEST SUNSET CHLORINATION TREATMENT
- ZOO WELL 05 WELLHEAD TREATMENT
Distribution
Also buys water from SAN FRANCISCO REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM.
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.
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 7.1 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.7 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| BromideA naturally occurring salt found in source water. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 9.3 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 18 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 42 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 49 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 3 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| ChlorateA byproduct that can form during disinfection, especially when hypochlorite solutions degrade. | 144 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 800 ug/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| PerchlorateA chemical used in rocket fuel and fireworks that can also form during disinfection. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 2.6 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 4.9 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 72 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 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. | 41 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 1000 ug/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 15 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 29 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 4.2 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 5.7 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 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 |
| SilicaA naturally occurring compound from sand and rock. | 7.5 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 16 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.2 NTUAverageSystem-wide | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 60 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 60 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 9.3AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 193AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.9 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 102 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 16 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giardia lamblia | 0.01AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about San Francisco SFPUC, CA's water
+Is San Francisco SFPUC, CA tap water safe to drink in 2023?
Every one of the 31 contaminants measured in San Francisco SFPUC, 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 San Francisco SFPUC, CA tap water?
31 contaminants were measured in San Francisco SFPUC, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and disinfection byproducts. 6 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 San Francisco SFPUC, 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 San Francisco SFPUC, 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.