What was found in San Bernardino'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 | 4940 µg/L 49% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY WD · 109,608 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1000000 µg/L — SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2017 | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 367.5 µg/L 9.2% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY WD · 109,608 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 9460 µg/L — CSA 70 W-4 PIONEERTOWN · 470 people · 2019 | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 6663 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY WD · 109,608 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9025 µg/L — GILBERT STREET COMPLEX · 3,833 people · 2019 | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 120 µg/L 1200% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: CSA 70 W-4 PIONEERTOWN · 470 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 79.715 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 8.82825 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY WD · 109,608 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 64.07 µg/L — CSA 70-F MORONGO · 300 people · 2019 | 9/12 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 44 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GLEN HELEN WATER SYSTEM · 5,900 people · 2023 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromoform | 38.92 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 24 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70J · 12,843 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 22.78 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 17.115 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13.475 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 11.24 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 7.625 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 7.58 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 6.195 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN · 1,240 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 1.1 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L Main supplier: SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY WD · 109,608 people · 2018 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.7780 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY WD · 109,608 people · 2018 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.5000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 64 · 14,911 people · 2018 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0120 mg/L 80% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Highest in the city: GILBERT STREET COMPLEX · 3,833 people · 2025 | 11/12 | LCR |
| PFHXS | 0.0062 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GLEN HELEN WATER SYSTEM · 5,900 people · 2023 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GLEN HELEN WATER SYSTEM · 5,900 people · 2023 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0035 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GLEN HELEN WATER SYSTEM · 5,900 people · 2023 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0032 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: GLEN HELEN WATER SYSTEM · 5,900 people · 2023 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
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 San Bernardino
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY WD | 109,608 |
| SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 64 | 14,911 |
| MUSCOY MWC NO. 1 | 13,000 |
| SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70J | 12,843 |
| GLEN HELEN WATER SYSTEM | 5,900 |
| GILBERT STREET COMPLEX | 3,833 |
| SBDNO COUNTY SERVICE AREA 70 CEDAR GLEN | 1,240 |
| CSA 70 W-3 HACIENDA | 611 |
| CSA 42 ORO GRANDE | 529 |
| CSA 70 W-4 PIONEERTOWN | 470 |
| CSA 70-F MORONGO | 300 |
| CAMP WATERMAN MWC | 55 |
Frequently asked questions about San Bernardino tap water
Is San Bernardino tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving San Bernardino. 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 San Bernardino?
12 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for San Bernardino, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in San Bernardino's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in San Bernardino include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Nitrate, Arsenic, TTHM. 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.