Is Salinas, 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 California Water Service Salinas.
2 public water systems serve parts of Salinas. The largest, California Water Service Salinas, serves 114,286 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
California Water Service Salinas
114,286 people · Groundwater · EPA ID CA2710010
| 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: 1.2 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: 0
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.
Salinas 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 Salinas city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Other water systems serving Salinas
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Seaside 11 mi California American Water – Monterey | Above limit | 1 ppb |
| Monterey 15 mi California American Water – Monterey | Above limit | 1 ppb |
| Hollister 17 mi City of Hollister | None above limits | 1.4 ppb |
| Watsonville 18 mi City of Watsonville | Above limit | 1.2 ppb |
| Gilroy 22 mi City of Gilroy | Above limit | 2 ppb |
| Soledad 25 mi City of Soledad | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Salinas ZIP codes (3)
- 93901
- 93905
- 93906
Questions
Is Salinas tap water safe to drink?
California Water Service Salinas has had no 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 Salinas, CA?
2 public water systems serve parts of Salinas. The largest is California Water Service Salinas (114,286 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Salinas tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. California Water Service Salinas 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 Salinas homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 58% of Salinas 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. California Water Service Salinas'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.