What was found in Carmel's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 710000 µg/L 7100% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 6100 µg/L 61% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 3540 µg/L 89% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 520 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 810 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 213.15 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 18.9 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 107 µg/L — CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 30.75 µg/L 51% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 104.5 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 72.25 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 97.2 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 8.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 73.15 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 23.7925 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 69.38 µg/L — CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 51.8 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 40.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 50 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 23.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 33.2 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 14.6 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 31.98 µg/L — CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 30.8786 µg/L 103% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 30 µg/L Highest in the city: CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 30.5 µg/L 610% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 28.4 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.6 µg/L — CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 1.1 µg/L 7.3% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19.2 µg/L — CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 6 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.9 µg/L — CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 12.7 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.5 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Diquat | 8.7 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 20 µg/L Highest in the city: CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 7.76 µg/L 155% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Highest in the city: CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4.2 µg/L 8.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.95 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2 µg/L — CARMEL RIVIERA MWC · 584 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 1 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Asbestos | 0.1980 MFL 2.8% of the EPA limit 7 MFL Highest in the city: CANADA WOODS WC · 356 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0013 mg/L 8.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS · 966 people · 2026
Highest in the city: 0.0030 mg/L — BRANDON CREEK MWS · 41 people · 2024 | 4/4 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Carmel
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SANTA LUCIA PRESERVE WS | 966 |
| CARMEL RIVIERA MWC | 584 |
| CANADA WOODS WC | 356 |
| BRANDON CREEK MWS | 41 |
Frequently asked questions about Carmel tap water
Is Carmel tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 30 contaminants in the water serving Carmel. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Carmel?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Carmel, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Carmel's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Carmel include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrite, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.