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Tap water quality report

City of Merced

EPA monitoring tested this supplier for 112 contaminants and detected 21. A detection doesn't automatically mean the water is unsafe — the level and EPA source for each is below.

112
contaminants tested
21
detected
93,692
people served
5
health-based violations
California rankingsLead in CaliforniaPFAS in California
Water source
Ground water
Ownership
Local government
Counties served
Merced

Compliance record

Formal violations the EPA has on file for this supplier. A health-based violation means a contaminant limit or a required treatment was breached; the rest are monitoring or reporting failures — still violations, but not a measured health risk.

5
health-based violations
5
violations on file
0
still open
ViolationTypeStatusPeriod
MCL Health-based Resolved 2001-05-01 → 2001-05-31
MCL Health-based Resolved 2001-05-01 → 2001-05-31
MCL Health-based Resolved 1994-04-01 → 1994-04-30
MCL Health-based Resolved 1994-04-01 → 1994-04-30
MCL Health-based Resolved 1994-04-01 → 1994-04-30

PFAS detected

PFAS are industrial “forever chemicals”. These are the EPA's latest nationwide test results (2023–2025).
ContaminantMaxDetection ratePeriod
PFHXS 0.0150 µg/L 7/42 2024
Pfhxa 0.0048 µg/L 4/42 2024
PFOS 0.0089 µg/L 4/42 2024
PFOA 0.0061 µg/L 3/42 2024

Other contaminants detected

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 this system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation. Where a single sample came in higher than that percentile, it is noted under the bar. Formal violations are listed separately.
ContaminantLevel vs EPA limitDetection rateSourcePeriod
Nitrate
14656.1 µg/L 147%
of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L
worst single sample: 16498 µg/L
1304/1304 SYR4 2012–2019
Arsenic
8.2 µg/L 82%
of the EPA limit 10 µg/L
worst single sample: 10 µg/L
785/840 SYR4 2012–2019
Fluoride
256 µg/L 6.4%
of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L
worst single sample: 720 µg/L
62/83 SYR4 2014–2019
Barium
480 µg/L 24%
of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L
worst single sample: 510 µg/L
61/62 SYR4 2014–2019
Tetrachloroethylene
2.53 µg/L 51%
of the EPA limit 5 µg/L
worst single sample: 3.7 µg/L
50/873 SYR4 2012–2019
Nitrate-Nitrite
4910 µg/L 49%
of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L
worst single sample: 5300 µg/L
40/40 SYR4 2016–2019
Lead
0.0 mg/L 0%
of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L
 28/28 LCR 2024
Trichloroethylene
0.9930 µg/L 20%
of the EPA limit 5 µg/L
worst single sample: 1.1 µg/L
22/864 SYR4 2012–2019
TTHM
9.28 µg/L 12%
of the EPA limit 80 µg/L
worst single sample: 12 µg/L
17/94 SYR4 2012–2019
Gross Beta Particle Activity
10.23 pCi/L
No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 11 pCi/L
15/20 SYR4 2016–2017
Combined Uranium
12.4415 µg/L 41%
of the EPA limit 30 µg/L
worst single sample: 12.963 µg/L
11/21 SYR4 2016–2017
Dichloromethane
4.42 µg/L 88%
of the EPA limit 5 µg/L
worst single sample: 4.5 µg/L
9/864 SYR4 2012–2019
Chloroform
10.12 µg/L
No EPA limit set
worst single sample: 12 µg/L
5/94 SYR4 2012–2019
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE
0.0140 µg/L 7%
of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L
 1/80 SYR4 2012–2019
Bromodichloromethane
2.6 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/94 SYR4 2012–2019
Bromoform
1.6 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/94 SYR4 2012–2019
Dibromochloromethane
3 µg/L
No EPA limit set
 1/94 SYR4 2012–2019
91 contaminants tested, none detected
1,1,1-Trichloroethane1,1,2-Trichloroethane1,1-Dichloroethylene1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene1,2-Dichloroethane1,2-Dichloropropane11Cl-PF3OUdS2,3,7,8-TCDD2,4,5-TP2,4-D4:2 Fts6:2 Fts8:2 Fts9Cl-PF3ONSAdonaAntimony, TotalAsbestosAtrazineBhc-GammaBenzeneBenzo(A)PyreneBeryllium, TotalChlorobenzeneCopperCyanideCadmiumCarbofuranCarbon TetrachlorideChlordaneChromiumDalaponDi(2-ethylhexyl) AdipateDi(2-ethylhexyl) PhthalateDibromoacetic AcidDichloroacetic AcidDinosebDiquatEthylene DibromideEndothallEndrinEthylbenzeneGlyphosateHexachlorobenzeneHfpo-DaHeptachlorHeptachlor EpoxideHexachlorocyclopentadieneLassoLeadMercuryMethoxychlorMonobromoacetic AcidMonochloroacetic AcidNetfosaaNfdhaNmefosaaNitriteOxamylPfbaPFBSPfdaPfdoaPfeesaPfhpaPfhpsPfmbaPfmpaPFNAPfpeaPfpesPftaPftrdaPfunaPentachlorophenolPicloramSeleniumSimazineStyreneThallium, TotalTolueneTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)ToxapheneTrichloroacetic AcidVinyl ChlorideXylenes, Totalcis-1,2-DichloroethyleneLithiumO-DichlorobenzeneP-Dichlorobenzenetrans-1,2-Dichloroethylene

Utility contact

Contact
ELWIN, KEN
Phone
209-385-6800
Email
[email protected]

Frequently asked questions about City of Merced

Is City of Merced tap water safe to drink?

EPA monitoring detected 21 contaminants in City of Merced's water. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most levels are within federal limits. See each level and source above, and the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for its official compliance status.

What contaminants were detected in City of Merced's water?

EPA monitoring detected Nitrate, Arsenic, Fluoride, Barium, Tetrachloroethylene, and others. The full list with the level and data source for each is above.

How many people does City of Merced serve?

City of Merced reports serving 93,692 people in California, per its EPA record.

Has City of Merced had any water quality violations?

The EPA has 5 violations on file for City of Merced, of which 5 are health-based (a contaminant limit or required treatment was breached) and 0 remain open. The rest are monitoring or reporting failures.

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.