We read 19 results from Helix Water District’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit or above a health goal.
Serves about 277,668 people · Water system ID CA3710010 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminumaverage · range ND to 0.32 · Helix plant · 2025 report, page 13 | 0.17 ppm | — | 0.2 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorideaverage · range 81 to 95 · Helix plant · 2025 report, page 14 | 89 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chromium-6average · range ND to 0.37 · sampled 2023 · Purchased water · 2025 report, page 13 | Not detected | 0.02 ppb | 10 ppb | Not detected |
| Copper90th percentile of 69 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps (69 sites) · 2025 report, page 14 | 0.05 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)average · range 4 to 22.9 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 13 | 13.7 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)average · range 13.7 to 44.3 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 13 | 25.7 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.6 to 0.9 · Helix plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 13 | 0.7 ppm | 1 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of 69 homes tested, 1 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps (69 sites) · 2025 report, page 14 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)average · range ND to 0.5 · Purchased water · 2025 report, page 13 | Not detected | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Not detected |
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · sampled 2024 · Helix plant · 2025 report, page 15 | Not detected | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Not detected |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · sampled 2024 · Helix plant · 2025 report, page 15 | Not detected | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Not detected |
| Sulfateaverage · range 100 to 190 · Helix plant · 2025 report, page 14 | 147 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 13 | Not detected | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Not detected |
| Total dissolved solidsaverage · range 420 to 580 · Helix plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 14 | 473 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · range 0.01 to 0.17 · Helix plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 13 | 0.17 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Alkalinityaverage · range 91 to 138 · Helix plant · 2025 report, page 14 | 119 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Chlorateaverage · range ND to 460 · Helix plant · 2025 report, page 13 | 152 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Hardnessaverage · range 9.06 to 14.6 · Helix plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 14 | 12.1 gpg (206 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Sodiumaverage · range 71 to 77 · Helix plant, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 14 | 75 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 Helix Water District’s water between Jan 2024 and Oct 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium26 ppbFound in 4 of 4 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 in this report is above a health goal or legal limit. If you’re bothered by taste, smell, hardness or spots, or your home has older pipes, the filter catalog and buyer questions can help you pick, and a test of your own tap shows what your plumbing adds.
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