Is Los Gatos, 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 San Jose Water. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.
2 public water systems serve parts of Los Gatos. The largest, San Jose Water, serves 1 million people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
San Jose Water
1 million people · Surface water · EPA ID CA4310011
Buys treated water from Santa Clara Valley Water District, City of Cupertino.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS One sample above limit | 3.1 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Detected, below limit | 4.3 ppt | 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: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1
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.
Los Gatos homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. San Jose Water's service line inventory lists 0 lead lines and 0 galvanized lines that need replacing (as of 2026-03). Look up your address. 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 Los Gatos town (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Other water systems serving Los Gatos
- Kohala Ranch Water Company850 people · Groundwater · Hawaii · reported ZIPs hereLead near 2027 level
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Cupertino 8 mi California Water Service Los Altos Suburban | None above limits | 1.5 ppb |
| San Jose 9 mi San Jose Water | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Santa Clara 9 mi City of Santa Clara | None above limits | 2.7 ppb |
| Sunnyvale 11 mi City of Sunnyvale | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Los Altos 12 mi California Water Service Los Altos Suburban | None above limits | 1.5 ppb |
| Mountain View 14 mi City of Mountain View | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Los Gatos ZIP codes (2)
- 95030
- 95032
Questions
Is Los Gatos tap water safe to drink?
San Jose Water had 1 health-based violation 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 Los Gatos, CA?
2 public water systems serve parts of Los Gatos. The largest is San Jose Water (1 million people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Los Gatos tap water have PFAS?
San Jose Water had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Los Gatos homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 71% of Los Gatos 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. San Jose Water's service line inventory lists 0 lead lines. 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.