What was found in Watsonville'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 | 148844 µg/L 1488% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 8639.98 µg/L 86% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12430 µg/L — SUNSET BEACH MUTUAL WATER CO · 182 people · 2013 | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 270 µg/L 6.8% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 344 µg/L — MOUNT MADONNA CENTER · 170 people · 2019 | 8/10 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 220 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: JARDINES DEL VALLE · 130 people · 2019 | 5/10 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 62 µg/L 78% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 37 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 32 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 17.45 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 31.85 µg/L — APTOS RIDGE MUTUAL WATER CO · 52 people · 2018 | 6/10 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 28 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: CRESTWOOD HEIGHTS WATER ASSN · 126 people · 2019 | 3/10 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 27.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2025 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 21 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 13.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 9.385 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: CRESTWOOD HEIGHTS WATER ASSN · 126 people · 2019 | 5/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 6.8 µg/L 113% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: CRESTWOOD HEIGHTS WATER ASSN · 126 people · 2017 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 6.44 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 8/10 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.585 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 5/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.1 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: MONTE VISTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL · 1,051 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.5340 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: CRESTWOOD HEIGHTS WATER ASSN · 126 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| PFHXS | 0.0067 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2025 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0065 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2025 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0063 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2025 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0051 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2025 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2025 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2025 | 1/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0012 mg/L 8% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: WATSONVILLE, CITY OF · 65,231 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0025 mg/L — APTOS RIDGE MUTUAL WATER CO · 52 people · 2027 | 10/10 | 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 Watsonville
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| WATSONVILLE, CITY OF | 65,231 |
| MONTE VISTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | 1,051 |
| RANCHO SAN ANDREAS | 200 |
| SUNSET BEACH MUTUAL WATER CO | 182 |
| MOUNT MADONNA CENTER | 170 |
| JARDINES DEL VALLE | 130 |
| CRESTWOOD HEIGHTS WATER ASSN | 126 |
| APTOS RIDGE MUTUAL WATER CO | 52 |
| LAKEVIEW APARTMENTS | 43 |
| APTOS HILLS MUTUAL WATER CO | 32 |
Frequently asked questions about Watsonville tap water
Is Watsonville tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 30 contaminants in the water serving Watsonville. 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 Watsonville?
10 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Watsonville, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Watsonville's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Watsonville include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, 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.