Water Quality in Santa Clara, CA: 1 Water-System Violation on Record
4 water systems · 4 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 1 violations across 4 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Santa Clara. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Santa Clara
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95050 | 1 | 1 | View report → |
| 95053 | 1 | 1 | View report → |
| 95051 | 0 | 0 | View report → |
| 95054 | 0 | 0 | View report → |
Water Quality Overview
Santa Clara, California has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 4 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 1 violation, including 1 health-based violation across 4 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Santa Clara is 0.0027 mg/L; the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to a water system's own 90th-percentile result and is not a safety threshold (EPA's health goal for lead is zero). No exceedances appear among the 4 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 47% of homes built before 1986, Santa Clara has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving Santa Clara
Santa Clara is served by 4 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. About 129,521 people live in the area (7 ZIP codes, Census); this is not the systems' reported service population.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
EPA records list 6 enforcement actions against water systems serving Santa Clara. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Santa Clara
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Santa Clara Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Santa Clara's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | N/A | 2 | 2 | Yes |
The standard column shows the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) except for lead and copper, whose value is an action level that triggers corrective steps and is not an MCL. Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL and treatment-technique violations.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken 4 enforcement actions against water systems serving Santa Clara. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2024-02-28 | State Filed Judgment |
| 2024-02-28 | State Order Extension |
| 2023-08-16 | State Order Extension |
| 2023-06-13 | State Filed Suit |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2024-02-28.
Santa Clara vs. Nearby California Cities
How Santa Clara's water quality compares to similar cities in California:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara | 4 | 1 | 4 | 129,521 |
| Inglewood | 5 | 1 | 5 | 129,295 |
| Simi Valley | 2 | 3 | 5 | 128,695 |
| Tracy | 4 | 0 | 8 | 131,046 |
Recommended Water Filters for Santa Clara
Based on contaminants detected in Santa Clara's water supply, these filter types are recommended:
Reverse Osmosis (under-sink)
- Removes: Uranium, Nitrate (as Nitrogen)
- Effectiveness: 90-99%
- Cost range: $150–$500
- Certification: NSF/ANSI 58
- Recommended products:
- Waterdrop G3P800
- iSpring RCC7AK
- APEC ROES-50
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Santa Clara
EPA coverage and recorded violations can differ across Santa Clara's ZIP codes. Missing counts are shown as unavailable, not zero:
Common Questions About Santa Clara Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Santa Clara, California:
Is Santa Clara water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Santa Clara's 4 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Santa Clara tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 1 health-based violation; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Santa Clara? Based on detected contaminants, a reverse osmosis (under-sink) filter is most recommended. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Santa Clara vs. California Average
Understanding how Santa Clara compares to the broader California average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Santa Clara.
ZIP Codes in Santa Clara
Santa Clara spans 7 ZIP codes. EPA water-system coverage is available for 4 directly mapped ZIP codes. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.