Is Oakland tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Oakland's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

85/100
Purity Score
1
Issues Found
4.2 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

1 Issue Detected in Oakland

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Oakland
California

946,019,460,294,603 · Mokelumne River Pardee Reservoir

Oakland, CA Water Quality Report

Low Risk Updated March 2026 700,000 residents
See Best Filters for Oakland
85
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
3.8 ppb
Nitrate
0.4 mg/L
Arsenic
0.2 mg/L
Hardness
4.2 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Oakland's water meets current EPA standards. Filtration can improve taste and provide extra safety.

Score

85 /100
Excellent
"Good" threshold (70)

Oakland tap water is sourced from Mokelumne River Pardee Reservoir and treated by East Bay MUD. Overall purity score: 85/100 (Excellent). Updated for 2026.

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Best filters matched to Oakland's 1 issue.

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Oakland Water FAQ

Is Oakland CA tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Oakland tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 85/100 (Excellent) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Oakland CA use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Oakland uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 0.8 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 Oakland CA water and what is the TDS level?
Oakland water hardness is 4.2 grains per gallon (moderate) with a TDS of 120 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Oakland CA drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Oakland drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Oakland?
Based on Oakland's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Oakland water scores well overall. A pitcher filter provides extra precaution and improves taste for drinking and cooking.

Nearby Reports

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

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • East Bay MUD CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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