Berkeley, CA Water Quality Report

Is Berkeley tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Berkeley, California. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Berkeley tap water safe to drink? Berkeley tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 0.01 ppt across 1 compound. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Berkeley water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Berkeley water: PFBA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Berkeley? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Berkeley Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Berkeley drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 0.01 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 0.01 ppt across 1 detected compound.

Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFBA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Berkeley Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 4 lead samples for Berkeley water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0033 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Berkeley: approximately 124,321.

ZIP Codes Served

94701, 94702, 94703, 94704, 94705

What Berkeley Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually