County water report
Monterey County Water Quality: 6 Cities Ranked by the Records
Monterey County, California: 6 city reports built from EPA and utility records. A county has many suppliers; each city shows the system that serves it.
Across the county's systems
Highest result for each contaminant
One row per contaminant: the highest result any system in the county reported, against its limit. Open a row for the systems behind it.
LithiumDetected in 6 systems10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit) · US EPAHighest57.5 µg/L
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY57.5 µg/LSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-12-29
- GREENFIELD, CITY OF54.3 µg/LSample date: 2024-04-16 to 2024-10-01
- CWSC SALINAS42 µg/LSample date: 2024-06-11 to 2026-06-16
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICT40.9 µg/LSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-09
- SOLEDAD, CITY OF32 µg/LSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-24
- CWSC KING CITY16 µg/LSample date: 2025-01-15 to 2025-07-22
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)Detected in 1 system of 6 tested4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest8.1 ng/L
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY8.1 ng/LSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-12-29
- CWSC KING CITYNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-01-15 to 2025-08-19
- CWSC SALINASNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-06-11 to 2026-06-16
- GREENFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-04-16 to 2024-10-01
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-09
- SOLEDAD, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-24
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)Detected in 1 system of 6 tested4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest7.3 ng/L
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY7.3 ng/LSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-12-29
- CWSC KING CITYNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-01-15 to 2025-08-19
- CWSC SALINASNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-06-11 to 2026-06-16
- GREENFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-04-16 to 2024-10-01
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-09
- SOLEDAD, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-24
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)Detected in 1 system of 6 tested10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest8.7 ng/L
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY8.7 ng/LSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-12-29
- CWSC KING CITYNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-01-15 to 2025-08-19
- CWSC SALINASNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-06-11 to 2026-06-16
- GREENFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-04-16 to 2024-10-01
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-09
- SOLEDAD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-24
Lead (90th percentile)Detected in 2 systems of 6 tested15 µg/L federal action level · US EPAHighest1.2 µg/L
- CWSC SALINAS1.2 µg/LMonitoring period: 2023–2025
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY1 µg/LMonitoring period: 2026–2026 (still open)
- CWSC KING CITYNot detectedMonitoring period: 2024–2026 (still open)
- GREENFIELD, CITY OFNot detectedMonitoring period: 2024–2026 (still open)
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICTNot detectedMonitoring period: 2023–2025
- SOLEDAD, CITY OFNot detectedMonitoring period: 2024–2026 (still open)
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)Detected in 1 system of 6 tested2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit) · US EPAHighest13.2 ng/L
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY13.2 ng/LSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-12-29
- CWSC KING CITYNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-01-15 to 2025-08-19
- CWSC SALINASNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-06-11 to 2026-06-16
- GREENFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-04-16 to 2024-10-01
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-09
- SOLEDAD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-24
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)Detected in 1 system of 6 tested400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) · Michigan EGLEHighest9.3 ng/L
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY9.3 ng/LSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-12-29
- CWSC KING CITYNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-01-15 to 2025-08-19
- CWSC SALINASNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-06-11 to 2026-06-16
- GREENFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-04-16 to 2024-10-01
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-09
- SOLEDAD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-24
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)Detected in 1 system of 6 testedNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyHighest5 ng/L
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY5 ng/LSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-12-29
- CWSC KING CITYNot detected · below 5.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-01-15 to 2025-08-19
- CWSC SALINASNot detected · below 5.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-06-11 to 2026-06-16
- GREENFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 5.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-04-16 to 2024-10-01
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 5.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-09
- SOLEDAD, CITY OFNot detected · below 5.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-24
2 more contaminants detectedShow
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)Detected in 1 system of 6 testedNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyHighest3.6 ng/L
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY3.6 ng/LSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-12-29
- CWSC KING CITYNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-01-15 to 2025-08-19
- CWSC SALINASNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-06-11 to 2026-06-16
- GREENFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-04-16 to 2024-10-01
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-09
- SOLEDAD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-24
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)Detected in 1 system of 6 testedNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyHighest9.2 ng/L
- CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY9.2 ng/LSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-12-29
- CWSC KING CITYNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-01-15 to 2025-08-19
- CWSC SALINASNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-06-11 to 2026-06-16
- GREENFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-04-16 to 2024-10-01
- MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-09
- SOLEDAD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-14 to 2023-08-24
21 PFAS tested, none detected in any systemShow
Tested in these 6 systems: CAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY, CWSC KING CITY, CWSC SALINAS, GREENFIELD, CITY OF, MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICT, SOLEDAD, CITY OF
- 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)
- 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)
- 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)
- 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)
- 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
- 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)
- Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)
- N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)
- N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
- Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)
- Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)
- Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)
- Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)
- Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
- Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
- Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
- Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
- Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
- Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)
- Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)
- Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)
6 cities
Cities ranked by the records
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Showing 6 of 6 cities · scores are system-level, not tap tests
Ranked by the Purity Score of each city's main water system, highest first. Scores belong to water systems; there is no county score. The score is computed only from contaminants measured in the published EPA record, so this ranks the record, not which city's water is safest. How the score works.
PFAS in Monterey County1 of 6 city reports had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit
4.0 ng/L federal MCL · PFOS, ng/LPFAS in California
Lead
0of 6 cities above the 15 µg/L action level
Based on each system's 90th-percentile result. Lead from household plumbing isn't in this record.
Lead in CaliforniaWho supplies the county
Largest water systems
- SeasideCAL AM WATER COMPANY - MONTEREY · CA2710004128,928 served
- SalinasCWSC SALINAS · CA2710010114,286 served
- MarinaMARINA COAST WATER DISTRICT · CA271001738,918 served
- SoledadSOLEDAD, CITY OF · CA271001119,732 served
- GreenfieldGREENFIELD, CITY OF · CA271000818,967 served
- King CityCWSC KING CITY · CA271000914,046 served
Questions
Frequently asked
How does Monterey County tap water compare across cities?
PurityMap ranks 6 cities in Monterey County by the Purity Score of each city's main water system, computed only from contaminants measured in the published EPA record. Scores belong to water systems, not to cities. The highest published score is Marina's main water system: MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICT · PWSID CA2710017 · Purity Score 100 (Excellent) · Confidence: moderate · Assessed at the water-system level. The ranking compares the records, not which city's water is safest, and your own tap can differ with household plumbing.
How many Monterey County cities had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit?
1 of 6 Monterey County city reports had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, including Seaside (PFOA 8.1 ng/L). That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation. PFAS were detected at any level in 1.
Is there lead in Monterey County tap water?
Utilities report lead as a 90th-percentile result from home taps. 2 of 6 Monterey County cities reported a value above zero, and none was above the 15 µg/L federal action level. Lead usually comes from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so only a test at your tap tells you what you drink.
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