Is California Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Water quality data for 87 cities across California. Find your city below.
Water quality in California varies significantly from city to city. Across 87 cities we track, hardness ranges from 18 PPM in Sacramento to 300 PPM in Encinitas, with a statewide average of 180 PPM. 74 of 87 cities have hard water above 120 PPM where a water softener provides measurable benefits.
31 California cities have forever chemicals (PFAS) above the EPA's 2024 limit of 4 parts per trillion: Gilroy (32.72 ppt), Anaheim Hills (55.9 ppt), Glendale (75.04 ppt), Bell (44.3 ppt), Monterey (54.2 ppt), and 26 more. A reverse osmosis system or NSF P473-certified filter can reduce PFAS to safe levels.
87
Cities
180
Avg Hardness (PPM)
300
Hardest City (PPM)
Complete California Guide
Statewide water quality overview, costs, and treatment recommendations.
Well Water in California
Testing, treatment, and common issues for private wells.
Hardest Water Rankings
California cities ranked by water hardness level.
City Treatment Guides
Sized recommendations based on each city's specific water data.
Irvine South
🧂 Best SoftenerIrvine North
🧂 Best SoftenerLa Jolla
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterAnaheim Hills
🧂 Best SoftenerChatsworth
🧂 Best SoftenerLong Beach
🧂 Best SoftenerAnaheim
🧂 Best SoftenerSan Diego
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterRiverside
🧂 Best SoftenerFremont
🧂 Best SoftenerSanta Clarita
🧂 Best SoftenerSan Jose
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterLos Angeles
🧂 Best SoftenerGardena
🧂 Best SoftenerSanta Ana
🧂 Best SoftenerCity Comparisons
Encinitas vs Sacramento
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Encinitas vs Camarillo
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Camarillo vs Rancho Cucamonga South
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
More for California
Moving to La JollaMoving to ChatsworthMoving to San DiegoSoftener Cost in La JollaSoftener Cost in ChatsworthSoftener Cost in San DiegoCalifornia Cities by Water Hardness
| City | Hardness (PPM) | Level | PFAS (ppt) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Encinitas | 300 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Colorado River import |
| Camarillo | 280 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Local groundwater |
| Rancho Cucamonga South | 280 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Inland Empire Utilities |
| Irvine South | 280 | Extremely Hard | 11.65 | Colorado River import + groundwater |
| Lake Forest | 280 | Extremely Hard | 6 | Colorado River + local wells |
| Rancho Santa Margarita | 280 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Colorado River import + local |
| Gilroy | 280 | Extremely Hard | 32.72 | Local groundwater |
| Irvine North | 270 | Extremely Hard | 11.65 | Colorado River import |
| La Jolla | 270 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Colorado River + local |
| Lancaster | 265 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Groundwater, State Water Project |
| Anaheim Hills | 260 | Extremely Hard | 55.9 | Colorado River + local wells |
| Palmdale | 250 | Extremely Hard | 13.95 | State Water Project, groundwater |
| Glendale | 250 | Extremely Hard | 75.04 | Local groundwater + MWD |
| Simi Valley | 250 | Extremely Hard | 0 | State Water Project + local |
| La Mirada | 240 | Very Hard | 0 | Local groundwater |
| Bell | 230 | Very Hard | 44.3 | Local groundwater |
| Monterey | 230 | Very Hard | 54.2 | Carmel River + desal |
| Sunnyvale | 222 | Very Hard | 0 | SFPUC, Valley Water |
| Temecula | 220 | Very Hard | 49.07 | MWD imports, Vail Lake |
| Norwalk South | 220 | Very Hard | 34.83 | Local groundwater |
| Chula Vista | 216 | Very Hard | 59.86 | Colorado River imports |
| Concord | 215 | Very Hard | 0 | CCWD Los Vaqueros, EBMUD |
| Hayward | 214 | Very Hard | 0 | SFPUC Hetch Hetchy, ACWD |
| Carlsbad | 210 | Very Hard | 0 | Imported & desalinated water |
| Chatsworth | 210 | Very Hard | 0 | LADWP (MWD + local) |
| Fontana | 208 | Very Hard | 0 | State Water Project, groundwater |
| Vista | 205 | Very Hard | 0 | Imported water & local wells |
| Long Beach | 204 | Very Hard | 0 | Colorado River, groundwater |
| Moreno Valley | 204 | Very Hard | 0 | EMWD imported + groundwater |
| Garden Grove | 204 | Very Hard | 46.61 | MWD imports, OC groundwater |
| Torrance | 203 | Very Hard | 0 | MWD imports, groundwater |
| San Marcos | 202 | Very Hard | 0 | Imported Colorado River water |
| Anaheim | 201 | Very Hard | 55.9 | MWD imports, OC groundwater |
| Escondido | 201 | Very Hard | 0 | Lake Dixon, MWD imports |
| San Diego | 200 | Very Hard | 0 | Imported + local reservoirs |
| Riverside | 200 | Very Hard | 12.28 | State Water Project, groundwater |
| Corona | 200 | Very Hard | 18.8 | Groundwater, MWD imports |
| Woodland Hills | 200 | Very Hard | 0 | MWD import + local |
| El Monte | 198 | Very Hard | 7.6 | San Gabriel Valley groundwater |
| West Covina | 195 | Very Hard | 24.3 | Imported Colorado River water & loca… |
| Fremont | 192 | Very Hard | 0 | Hetch Hetchy + ACWD local |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 192 | Very Hard | 0 | Cucamonga Valley Water District |
| Norwalk | 192 | Very Hard | 34.83 | Imported water & local wells |
| San Bernardino | 190 | Very Hard | 15.1 | Groundwater, State Water Project |
| Downey | 190 | Very Hard | 85.17 | Groundwater, MWD |
| Carson | 190 | Very Hard | 0 | Imported & local groundwater |
| Valencia | 190 | Very Hard | 24.3 | Castaic Lake + local wells |
| Huntington Beach | 189 | Very Hard | 8.8 | MWD imports, OC groundwater |
| Santa Clarita | 188 | Very Hard | 56.66 | State Water Project, groundwater |
| South Gate | 185 | Very Hard | 48.35 | Imported water |
| San Jose | 183 | Very Hard | 8.92 | Delta imports, groundwater, Hetch Hetchy |
| Ontario | 183 | Very Hard | 58.55 | State Water Project, groundwater |
| Pasadena | 182 | Very Hard | 0 | Local wells, MWD imports |
| Los Angeles | 180 | Very Hard | 0 | Imported + Groundwater |
| Pomona | 180 | Very Hard | 39.35 | Three Valleys MWD |
| Gardena | 180 | Very Hard | 0 | Groundwater + MWD |
| Torrance South | 180 | Very Hard | 0 | West Basin MWD |
| Redondo Beach | 180 | Very Hard | 0 | West Basin MWD + groundwater |
| Santa Ana | 178 | Hard | 30.01 | MWD imports, OC groundwater |
| Murrieta | 177 | Hard | 13.55 | MWD imports, groundwater |
| Oxnard | 175 | Hard | 0 | Groundwater, State Water Project |
| Santa Maria | 175 | Hard | 0 | Local groundwater |
| Irvine | 173 | Hard | 11.65 | MWD imports, OC groundwater |
| Roseville | 169 | Hard | 0 | Folsom Lake, American River |
| Elk Grove | 154 | Hard | 8.4 | Sacramento River, groundwater |
| Modesto | 144 | Hard | 34.25 | Tuolumne River, groundwater |
| Visalia | 141 | Hard | 64.42 | Groundwater, Kaweah River |
| Turlock | 140 | Hard | 0 | Turlock Irrigation District groundwater |
| Manteca | 135 | Hard | 27.83 | Groundwater & South San Joaquin Irri… |
| Bakersfield | 132 | Hard | 34.87 | Kern River, groundwater |
| Fresno North | 130 | Hard | 80.97 | Groundwater + Kings River |
| Milpitas | 130 | Hard | 0 | Hetch Hetchy + local wells |
| Stockton | 129 | Hard | 4.5 | Surface water, groundwater |
| Fresno | 126 | Hard | 80.97 | Groundwater, Kings River |
| Vacaville | 110 | Moderately Hard | 25.97 | North Bay Aqueduct & local wells |
| Newark | 90 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Hetch Hetchy + local wells |
| Santa Cruz Downtown | 70 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Loch Lomond Reservoir |
| Santa Rosa | 60 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Russian River + Sonoma Water |
| Dublin | 60 | Moderately Hard | 0 | Hetch Hetchy + local wells |
| Napa | 45 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Lake Hennessey & Milliken Reservoir |
| Oakland | 40 | Slightly Hard | 5.15 | Mokelumne River (EBMUD) |
| Redding | 35 | Slightly Hard | 55.2 | Sacramento River & Whiskeytown Reser |
| Folsom | 35 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Folsom Lake (American River) |
| Daly City | 34 | Slightly Hard | 0 | SFPUC Hetch Hetchy |
| Santa Cruz | 28 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Loch Lomond Reservoir & North Coast … |
| San Francisco | 21 | Slightly Hard | 0 | Hetch Hetchy (Yosemite) |
| Sacramento | 18 | Slightly Hard | 76.14 | American River, Sacramento River |
Frequently Asked Questions About California Water
Is California tap water safe to drink?
California tap water meets EPA legal standards in most cities. 31 cities have PFAS levels above the EPA health advisory of 4 ppt. The statewide average hardness of 180 PPM means most homes deal with hard water effects like scale buildup, though hardness is not a health concern. Check your specific city above for detailed data.
Do I need a water softener in California?
Most California cities would benefit from a water softener. The state average is 180 PPM, and 85% of cities exceed 120 PPM where softener benefits become measurable. A salt-based softener reduces scale damage, energy waste, and product use.
Which California city has the hardest water?
Encinitas has the hardest water in California at 300 PPM (17.5 GPG). Camarillo is second at 280 PPM. See the full ranking.
What contaminants are in California water?
The most common concerns across California are hard water minerals (calcium and magnesium), and PFAS (forever chemicals) detected in 31 cities. Each city has different levels - check your city above for specific contaminant data.
How much does a water softener cost in California?
A whole-house water softener for a typical California home costs $800-$2,500 installed, depending on capacity and brand. At 180 PPM average hardness, most homes need a 32,000-48,000 grain system. Full cost breakdown.