Is there PFAS in Cal Am Water Company - Monterey water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Cal Am Water Company - Monterey averaged 6.9 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 1.7 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

Cal Am Water Company - Monterey is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Pacific Grove, California, serving about 92,450 people, including Carmel By The Sea, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 26 times across 12 sampling points between Feb 2023 and Dec 2023.

Every PFAS detected

Not detected: 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFDoA, PFDA, ADONA, NMeFOSAA, PFNA, HFPO-DA, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFMBA, PFEESA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFHpS, PFTA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA.

Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 57.5 ppb, detected in 17 of 26 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.

What the EPA limits mean here

In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.

Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.

What you can do at home

Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.

Other systems in California

• City of Redwood City none detected
• City of Merced above an EPA limit
• Padre Dam Mwd 1 PFAS detected
• City of Westminster above an EPA limit
• Santa Cruz Water Department none detected
• Ventura Wwd No. 8 - Simi Valley none detected

All 707 tested systems in California

ZIP codes served

93921 93923 93924 93940 93943 93944 93950 93953 93955

As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.

Cite this page

Well & Tap. "PFAS in Cal Am Water Company - Monterey water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID CA2710004. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/california/cal-am-water-company-monterey/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID CA2710004). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.