Drinking water quality · 2021
· Verified
What's in San Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA tap water
28 contaminants were measured in the San Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA water system's 2021 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2021
- Contaminants measured
- 28
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Service area
- CA
state-level CCR
Approaching the limit (≥ 80%)
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.
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based2 violations on record · most recent Jun 2023resolved
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent May 2000resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 52 ug/LAverageSite Average | None set | Approaching the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 60 ug/LAverageSite Average | None set | Within the limit |
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 2.5 ug/LAverageVW Surface Water | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— VW Surface Water, Mountain Surface Water, Groundwater
| |||
| ChlorateA byproduct that can form during disinfection, especially when hypochlorite solutions degrade. | 163 ug/LAverageVW Surface Water | 800 ug/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— VW Surface Water, Mountain Surface Water
| |||
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 1.8 ng/LAverageGroundwater | 6.5 ng/LNL | Within the limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 3.3 ng/LAverageGroundwater | 3 ng/LNL | Within the limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | Not detected ng/LAverageGroundwater | 5.1 ng/LNL | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.32 NTUMaximumVW Surface Water | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— VW Surface Water, Groundwater, Mountain Surface Water
| |||
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 3 mg/LAverageGroundwater | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, VW Surface Water, Mountain Surface Water
| |||
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | Not detected mg/LAverageMountain Surface Water | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— VW Surface Water, Mountain Surface Water, Groundwater
| |||
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Total | 1.15 mg/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Chromium | 2.9 ug/LAverageGroundwater | 0.02 ug/LPublic health goal | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water
| |||
| Dichloroethylene 11 | Not detected ug/LAverageMountain Surface Water | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water
| |||
| Trichloroethane 111 | Not detected ug/LAverageMountain Surface Water | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water
| |||
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 3.3 pCi/LAverageVW Surface Water | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, VW Surface Water, Mountain Surface Water
| |||
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | Not detected pCi/LAverageMountain Surface Water | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water
| |||
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 1.3 pCi/LAverageVW Surface Water | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, VW Surface Water, Mountain Surface Water
| |||
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.23 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.11 mg/LAverageGroundwater | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water
| |||
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | Not detected ug/LAverageMountain Surface Water | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water
| |||
| 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/LAverageMountain Surface Water | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Groundwater, Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water
| |||
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | Not detected mg/LAverageMountain Surface Water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (3)— Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water, Groundwater
| |||
| BoronA naturally occurring element from rock and soil. | 162 ug/LAverageVW Surface Water | 1000 ug/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (3)— VW Surface Water, Groundwater, Mountain Surface Water
| |||
| Vanadium | 2.6 ug/LAverageVW Surface Water | 50 ug/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryptosporidium | Not detectedAverageMountain Surface Water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water
| |||
| Giardia lamblia | 0.22AverageMountain Surface Water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— Mountain Surface Water, VW Surface Water
| |||
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0.27 %AverageSystem-wide | 0 %MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Source: San Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA's 2021 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. utility is required to publish. The numbers on this page are the utility's own. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
People also ask about San Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA's water
+Is San Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA tap water safe to drink in 2021?
Every one of the 28 contaminants measured in San Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA's 2021 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 Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA tap water?
28 contaminants were measured in San Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA's 2021 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, disinfection byproducts, and other. 16 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Are any contaminants in San Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: HAA5. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from San Jose Water — San Jose, Ca, CA's 2021 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 Jose Water — San Jose, 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 2021 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.
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