Is San Diego tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

San Diego's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns including PFAS detected. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

61/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
16.3 GPG
Hardness
Detected
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in San Diego

PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Detected

PFAS are man-made chemicals that do not break down and accumulate in the body.

PFAS details for San Diego

Very Hard Water (16.3 GPG)

Hard water causes scale in pipes and shortens appliance lifespan.

Hardness data for San Diego

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.5 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for San Diego
California

921,019,210,292,103 · Colorado River and Sacramento Delta

San Diego, CA Water Quality Report

Elevated Risk Updated March 2026 1.4M residents
See Best Filters for San Diego
61
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
2.1 ppt
Lead
1.8 ppb
Nitrate
3.2 mg/L
Arsenic
0.5 mg/L
Hardness
16.3 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    At 16.3 GPG, San Diego's water qualifies as very hard. This can cause limescale in pipes and shorten appliance lifespan.
  • 2
    PFAS have been identified in San Diego's water at 2.1 parts per trillion. A reverse osmosis system is the most reliable home treatment.

Score

61 /100
Moderate
"Good" threshold (70)

San Diego tap water is sourced from Colorado River and Sacramento Delta and treated by San Diego Public Utilities Department. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected. Water hardness is very hard at 16.3 GPG which may cause scale buildup. TDS is 650 ppm which is above the EPA secondary guideline of 500 ppm. Overall purity score: 61/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to San Diego's 3 issues.

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Explore San Diego Water Data

PFAS in San DiegoForever chemicals
Lead in San DiegoLead risk
San Diego Hard WaterHardness data
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San Diego Water FAQ

Is San Diego CA tap water safe to drink in 2026?
San Diego tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 61/100 (Moderate) on PurityMap for 2026. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected at 2.1 ppt. An NSF-certified filter is strongly recommended. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does San Diego CA use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
San Diego uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.0 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is San Diego CA water and what is the TDS level?
San Diego water hardness is 16.3 grains per gallon (very hard) with a TDS of 650 ppm (unacceptable). This level causes noticeable scale buildup in water heaters kettles and dishwashers. A water softener is recommended to protect plumbing and reduce soap usage.
Has PFAS been found in San Diego CA drinking water?
Yes. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected in San Diego water at approximately 2.1 ppt according to EPA UCMR5 monitoring data. A reverse osmosis or NSF P473-certified filter is the most effective residential solution.
What is the best water filter for San Diego?
Based on San Diego's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. San Diego: PFAS detected or elevated lead risk. Reverse osmosis is the only residential technology proven to reduce both below detection limits. TDS will also drop significantly.

Nearby Reports

BakersfieldCalifornia — 55/100RiversideCalifornia — 58/100San BernardinoCalifornia — 58/100Moreno ValleyCalifornia — 58/100FontanaCalifornia — 58/100Chula VistaCalifornia — 61/100

All California cities

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • San Diego Public Utilities Department CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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