Home / California / Palo Alto

Palo Alto Water Quality

Latest water quality information for Palo Alto, California

Last update on March 2025

Very bad

Unsafe water with serious health risks.

Exceeds 1 EPA limits and 10 recommended standards.

Water Provider
city of palo alto
Owner Type
L (Local Government)
Population Served
67,973
Data Sources
2012-2024

Contaminants exceeding EPA limits

What it means: This refers to substances in the water that are found at levels higher than what the EPA allows. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) is a U.S. government agency that sets legal limits for harmful contaminants to protect public health. Exceeding these limits means the water may pose health risks based on federal safety standards.

Pentachlorophenol

1.30 ppb
1.3x
EPA limits: 1 ppb
Above EPA regulatory threshold

Potential Health Effects

Cancer

Contaminants exceeding recommended standards

What it means: This refers to substances in the water that are above health-based guidelines set by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These standards, while not always legally enforceable, are based on scientific research to protect health. Exceeding them may indicate potential health concerns.

Bromodichloromethane

1 ppb
16.7x
Recommended: 0.0600 ppb
Above health-based recommendations

Potential Health Effects

Cancer

Chloroform

21 ppb
52.5x
Recommended: 0.4000 ppb
Above health-based recommendations

Potential Health Effects

Cancer

Hexachlorobenzene

0.2000 ppb
6.7x
Recommended: 0.0300 ppb
Above health-based recommendations

Potential Health Effects

Cancer

Lead

1.10 ppb
5.5x
Recommended: 0.2000 ppb
Above health-based recommendations

Potential Health Effects

Neurotoxicity

Lead Level

1.10 ppb
5.5x
Recommended: 0.2000 ppb
Above health-based recommendations

Potential Health Effects

Neurotoxicity

Lindane

0.2000 ppb
6.2x
Recommended: 0.0320 ppb
Above health-based recommendations

Potential Health Effects

Neurotoxicity, cancer

Perchlorate

1.50 ppb
1.5x
Recommended: 1 ppb
Above health-based recommendations

Potential Health Effects

Thyroid disruption

Total Thms

23.10 ppb
154.0x
Recommended: 0.1500 ppb
Above health-based recommendations

Potential Health Effects

Cancer

Turbidity

0.5000 NTU
1.7x
Recommended: 0.3000 NTU
Above health-based recommendations

Potential Health Effects

Infection risk

Other Detected Contaminants

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Recommended Status
Alachlor 0.7000 ppb 2 ppb 2 ppb Within limits
Aluminum 50.80 ppb 200 ppb 600 ppb Within limits
Calcium 7.90 ppm Not established 80 ppm Within limits
Chlorate 95.80 ppb Not established 210 ppb Within limits
Chloride 7.70 ppm 250 ppm 250 ppm Within limits
Cobalt 0.5000 ppb Not established 70 ppb Within limits
Conductivity 93 µS/cm Not established 800 µS/cm Within limits
Fluoride 660.90 ppb 4000 ppb 2000 ppb Within limits
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene 1.10 ppb 50 ppb 2 ppb Within limits
Magnesium 2 ppm Not established 30 ppm Within limits
Manganese 4.50 ppb 50 ppb 50 ppb Within limits
Molybdenum 0.6000 ppb Not established 40 ppb Within limits
Odor 3 TON 3 TON 3 TON Within limits
Ph Level 8.40 pH units 8.50 pH units 8.50 pH units Within limits
Potassium 587.70 ppb Not established 5000 ppb Within limits
Sodium 11 ppm Not established 20 ppm Within limits
Strontium 68.40 ppb Not established 1500 ppb Within limits
Sulfate 10.30 ppm 250 ppm 250 ppm Within limits
Total Dissolved Solids 68.10 ppm 500 ppm 500 ppm Within limits
Zinc 57.60 ppb 5000 ppb 5000 ppb Within limits
No additional contaminants detected.

How to best protect from water pollution?

Reduce your water pollution exposure in California

Carbon Filter

Carbon filters are effective at removing many common contaminants including chlorine, sediment, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and improves taste and odor.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis systems can remove up to 99% of dissolved contaminants from water including heavy metals, fluoride, nitrates, and arsenic.

Other ZIP codes in Palo Alto