Drinking water quality · 2023

· Verified

What's in Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA tap water

14 contaminants were measured in the Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit 1 sit at or above that limit.

Reporting year
2023
Contaminants measured
14
Over federal limit
1
Approaching the limit
0
Worst contaminant
Lead
6.0× the limit
Service area
CA
state-level CCR
Source
Utility CCR
At or above the federal limit

Metals

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures.90 ug/LAverageTreated Surface WaterAt or above the limit
+By source (4)Treated Surface Water, COW Maximum Level, Niveles de Promedio de la Ciudad +1 more
  • Treated Surface WaterPlant
    avg90 ug/Lrange90 ug/L600% of limit
  • COW Maximum LevelPlant
    13% of limit
  • Niveles de Promedio de la CiudadPlant
    avg1 ug/L7% of limit
  • COW Average LevelPlant
    avg1 ug/L7% of limit
ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture.1 ug/LAverageNiveles de Promedio de la CiudadWithin the limit
+By source (7)Treated Ground-water 2, COW Maximum Level, Niveles de Promedio de la Ciudad +4 more
  • Treated Ground-water 2Plant
    avg0.5 ug/Lrange0–6.4 ug/L64% of limit
  • COW Maximum LevelPlant
    64% of limit
  • Niveles de Promedio de la CiudadPlant
    avg1 ug/L10% of limit
  • COW Average LevelPlant
    avg1 ug/L10% of limit
  • Treated Surface WaterPlant
    avgNot detected ug/LrangeNot detected ug/L0% of limit
  • Potencial Costo de TratamientoPlant
  • Potential Treatment CostPlant
CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing.90 ug/LAverageTreated Surface WaterWithin the limit
+By source (4)COW Maximum Level, COW Average Level, Niveles de Promedio de la Ciudad +1 more
  • COW Maximum LevelPlant
    69% of limit
  • COW Average LevelPlant
    avg0.44 mg/L34% of limit
  • Niveles de Promedio de la CiudadPlant
    avg0.44 mg/L34% of limit
  • Treated Surface WaterPlant
    avg90 ug/Lrange90 ug/L7% of limit
AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant.80 ug/LAverageTreated Surface WaterDetected — no federal limit
+By source (2)Treated Surface Water, Treated Ground-water 2
  • Treated Surface WaterPlant
    avg80 ug/Lrange66–96 ug/L
  • Treated Ground-water 2Plant
    avgNot detected ug/LrangeNot detected ug/L
Chromium, HexavalentHexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium.8.9 ug/LAverageNiveles de Promedio de la CiudadDetected — no federal limit
+By source (7)Potencial Costo de Tratamiento, Potential Treatment Cost, Treated Ground-water 2 +4 more
  • Potencial Costo de TratamientoPlant
  • Potential Treatment CostPlant
  • Treated Ground-water 2Plant
    avg8.9 ug/Lrange0–20 ug/L
  • COW Maximum LevelPlant
  • Niveles de Promedio de la CiudadPlant
    avg8.9 ug/L
  • COW Average LevelPlant
    avg8.9 ug/L
  • Treated Surface WaterPlant
    avg0.2 ug/Lrange0.18–0.2 ug/L
NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge.1.4 ug/LAverageTreated Ground-water 2Detected — no federal limit
+By source (7)Treated Ground-water 2, COW Maximum Level, Potencial Costo de Tratamiento +4 more
  • Treated Ground-water 2Plant
    avg1.4 ug/Lrange0–19 ug/L
  • COW Maximum LevelPlant
  • Potencial Costo de TratamientoPlant
  • Potential Treatment CostPlant
  • COW Average LevelPlant
    avg1.4 ug/L
  • Niveles de Promedio de la CiudadPlant
    avg1.4 ug/L
  • Treated Surface WaterPlant
    avgNot detected ug/LrangeNot detected ug/L

Disinfectants

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses.0.61–0.96 mg/LAverageTreated Surface WaterWithin the limit

PFAS ("forever chemicals")

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings.0.76 ng/LAverageCOW Average LevelWithin the limit
+By source (5)COW Maximum Level, COW Average Level, Niveles de Promedio de la Ciudad +2 more
  • COW Maximum LevelPlant
    150% of limit
  • COW Average LevelPlant
    avg0.76 ng/L19% of limit
  • Niveles de Promedio de la CiudadPlant
    avg0.76 ng/L19% of limit
  • Potencial Costo de TratamientoPlant
  • Potential Treatment CostPlant
PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products.0.74 ng/LAverageNiveles de Promedio de la CiudadWithin the limit
+By source (5)COW Maximum Level, Niveles de Promedio de la Ciudad, COW Average Level +2 more
  • COW Maximum LevelPlant
    240% of limit
  • Niveles de Promedio de la CiudadPlant
    avg0.74 ng/L19% of limit
  • COW Average LevelPlant
    avg0.74 ng/L19% of limit
  • Potential Treatment CostPlant
  • Potencial Costo de TratamientoPlant

Inorganic chemicals

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits.1.1 mg/LAverageTreated Ground-water 2Within the limit
+By source (2)Treated Ground-water 2, Treated Surface Water
  • Treated Ground-water 2Plant
    avg1.1 mg/Lrange0–3.8 mg/L38% of limit
  • Treated Surface WaterPlant
    avgNot detected mg/LrangeNot detected mg/L0% of limit
FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay.175 ug/LAverageTreated Surface WaterWithin the limit
+By source (2)Treated Ground-water 2, Treated Surface Water
  • Treated Ground-water 2Plant
    avg70 ug/Lrange0–260 ug/L7% of limit
  • Treated Surface WaterPlant
    avg175 ug/Lrange170–180 ug/L5% of limit

Other

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
Chromium6.3 ug/LAverageTreated Ground-water 2Within the limit
+By source (2)Treated Ground-water 2, Treated Surface Water
  • Treated Ground-water 2Plant
    avg6.3 ug/Lrange0–19 ug/L19% of limit
  • Treated Surface WaterPlant
    avgNot detected ug/LrangeNot detected ug/L0% of limit

Physical & aggregate

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water.0.029 NTUAverageTreated Surface WaterWithin the limit

Microbial

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation.0.05AverageCOW Average LevelDetected — no federal limit
+By source (5)Potential Treatment Cost, Potencial Costo de Tratamiento, COW Maximum Level +2 more
  • Potential Treatment CostPlant
  • Potencial Costo de TratamientoPlant
  • COW Maximum LevelPlant
  • COW Average LevelPlant
    avg0.05
  • Niveles de Promedio de la CiudadPlant
    avg0.05
Source: Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA's 2023 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 Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA's water

+Is Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA tap water safe to drink in 2023?

The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for the Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Lead. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.

+What contaminants are in Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA tap water?

14 contaminants were measured in Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and pfas ("forever chemicals"). 9 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.

+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA tap water?

One contaminant in Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA's 2023 report sits at or above the federal limit: Lead (6.0× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.

+What is the worst contaminant in Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, CA tap water?

The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2023 report is Lead, at 6.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.

+Where does the data on this page come from?

Every value is transcribed from Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, Ca, 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 Watsonville, City of — Watsonville, 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 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.

More water systems in CA