Is Hollister, CA tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of Hollister.
City of Hollister supplies Hollister (26,598 people).
Water system
City of Hollister
26,598 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID CA3510001
Buys treated water from Sunnyslope County Water District, San Benito County Water District.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 1.4 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 4
Across California, 129 of 691 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 26 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. California results.
Hollister homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Hollister city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Gilroy 15 mi City of Gilroy | Above limit | 2 ppb |
| Salinas 17 mi California Water Service Salinas | None above limits | 1.2 ppb |
| Watsonville 21 mi City of Watsonville | Above limit | 1.2 ppb |
| Morgan Hill 23 mi City of Morgan Hill | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Seaside 28 mi California American Water – Monterey | Above limit | 1 ppb |
| Soledad 29 mi City of Soledad | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Hollister ZIP codes (1)
- 95023
Questions
Is Hollister tap water safe to drink?
City of Hollister had 4 health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Hollister, CA?
City of Hollister, which serves 26,598 people.
Does Hollister tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Hollister had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Hollister homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 31% of Hollister homes as built before 1980 (California: 56%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. City of Hollister's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.