Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Santa Ana, CA tap water
52 contaminants were measured in the Santa Ana, CA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 52
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Service area
- CA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds above EPA limits in Santa Ana, CA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (3.6×)PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.2×)PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Approaching limit (84%)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Santa Ana, CA's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 18 sources.
Source
- WELL · 14
- WELL 28 - STANDBY
- WELL 41 - STANDBY
- WELL 27 - STANDBY
- + 1 more
Treatment
- OSHG AT WELLS 37
- OSHG AT WELL 41
- OSHG AT WELL 34
- + 14 more
Distribution
Also buys water from METROPOLITAN WATER DIST. OF SO. CAL., MESA WATER DISTRICT, and 2 more.
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 Apr 1993resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 45 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 17 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Bromodichloroacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 0.86 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PerchlorateA chemical used in rocket fuel and fireworks that can also form during disinfection. | 1.2 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.01 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 2 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.7 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Dichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 1.1 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Trichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 1 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Bromochloroacetic acidA mixed-halogen haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 0.81 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Dibromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 0.66 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Chlorodibromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 0.55 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Monobromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| BromideA naturally occurring salt found in source water. | 0.13 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 104 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 224 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate Nitrite | 2 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | 0.124 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | None detected |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | Not detected mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| BoronA naturally occurring element from rock and soil. | 0.14 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 1 mg/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 73 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, HexavalentHexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium. | 1.4 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 22 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 26 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 4.9 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 103 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | Not detected NTUAverageAverage Amount | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 164 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Bicarbonate | 202 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ColorA measure of visible tint in the water. | 2AverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 270 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| OdorA measure of detectable smell in the water. | 1AverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8.2AverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 979AverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.4 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 621 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 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. | Not detected pCi/LAverageAverage Amount | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 4 pCi/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 2.6 pCi/LAverageAverage Amount | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageAverage Amount | 500 ng/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Santa Ana, CA's water
+Is Santa Ana, CA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 52 contaminants measured in Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, CA tap water?
52 contaminants were measured in Santa Ana, CA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and physical & aggregate. 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 Santa Ana, CA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: PFOS. 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 Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, 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.