We read 17 results from Cwsc Salinas’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 7 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 123,679 people · Water system ID CA2710010 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · range ND to 6.5 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 13 | 6.5 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal1,625x the health goal |
| Chromium-6average · range 2.1 to 7.5 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 13 | 4.7 ppb | 0.02 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal235x the health goal |
| Copper90th percentile of 51 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps (51 samples) · 2025 report, page 14 | 0.65 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal2.2x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)average · range ND to 18 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 13 | 4.5 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Perchloratehighest measured · range ND to 2.3 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 13 | 2.3 ppb | 1 ppb | 6 ppb | Above the health goal2.3x the health goal |
| Total dissolved solidsaverage · range 300 to 960 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 15 | 531 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Above the guideline1.1x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| Uraniumaverage · range 1.49 to 23.8 · printed as 4.7 pCi/L · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 13 | 7 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal12x the health goal |
| Chlorineaverage · range 0.41 to 1.7 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 14 | 0.99 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 2.1 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 14 | 1.1 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range ND to 11 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 14 | 10 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.17 to 0.41 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 13 | 0.26 ppm | 1 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Ironaverage · range ND to 2.2 · printed as 116 ppb · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 15 | 0.12 ppm | — | 0.3 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Lead90th percentile of 51 homes tested, 1 over the action level · Customer taps (51 samples) · 2025 report, page 14 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)average · range 0.53 to 7.1 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 13 | 3.3 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Hardnessaverage · range 6.26 to 32.8 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 16 | 15.9 gpg (271 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Lithiumaverage · range ND to 43 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 16 | 21 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumaverage · range 40 to 176 · Groundwater wells · 2025 report, page 16 | 66 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Cwsc Salinas’s water between Jun 2024 and Jun 2026. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium42 ppbFound in 33 of 40 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Copper
Found: Copper
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Uranium
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Industrial chemicals and pesticides
Found: Perchlorate
What removes it: Carbon block or RO.
Salty taste / high TDS
Found: Total dissolved solids
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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