Santa Ana, CA Water Quality Report

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

Quick Answers

Is Santa Ana, CA tap water safe to drink? Santa Ana, CA tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 1.11 ppt across 8 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Santa Ana, CA water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Santa Ana water: PFOS (65.9 ppt), PFOA (29.1 ppt), PFHpA (11.5 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Santa Ana, CA? For Santa Ana, CA households, 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.

Santa Ana, CA Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Santa Ana, CA drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 65.9 ppt across 5 water systems, representing an average of 1.11 ppt across 8 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 65.9 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOA: 29.1 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHpA: 11.5 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFPeA: 0.02 ppt
  • PFBA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Santa Ana, CA Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 22 lead samples for Santa Ana water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0084 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

Source: EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5), the 2023-2025 national testing program spanning 66,000+ public water systems – the broadest drinking water survey ever run in the US. Santa Ana, CA serves a population of roughly 309,441.

ZIP Codes Served

92701, 92702, 92703, 92704, 92705

What Santa Ana, California Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your California utility – it is free and updated annually
  3. Choose a filter certified for PFAS: NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis (94-99% removal) or an NSF-53 pitcher
  4. High-exposure households (pregnancy, infants, immunocompromised) should also consider a PFAS home test kit