What was found in Ceres'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 | 954500 µg/L 9545% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 9500 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13900 µg/L — MONTEREY PARK TRACT CSD · 186 people · 2016 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 211 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 140 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 200 µg/L — MONTEREY PARK TRACT CSD · 186 people · 2016 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 63.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 60.25 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 40.23 µg/L 134% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 30 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 15 µg/L 150% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 38 µg/L — MONTEREY PARK TRACT CSD · 186 people · 2016 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 22.435 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 15.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 9.6 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 9.24 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 6.93 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 6 µg/L 120% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.2 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.53 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.48 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.6100 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE | 0.1431 µg/L 72% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.0240 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0120 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0084 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0074 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0066 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0047 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CERES, CITY OF · 54,513 people · 2023 | 2/2 | 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 Ceres
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CERES, CITY OF | 54,513 |
| MONTEREY PARK TRACT CSD | 186 |
Frequently asked questions about Ceres tap water
Is Ceres tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Ceres. 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 Ceres?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Ceres, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Ceres's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Ceres include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Barium, Fluoride, Trichloroacetic Acid. 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.