Is there PFAS in City of Santa Ana water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show City of Santa Ana averaged 13.6 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 3.4 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
City of Santa Ana
Serves 310,539 people · 28 PFOA samples from 12 sampling points · Mar 2023 to Apr 2026
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
8.1 ppt avg · max 8.9
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
13.6 ppt avg · max 14.2
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
7.8 ppt avg · max 8.4
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.8 avg · max 0.8
Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA, PFHxA.
City of Santa Ana is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Santa Ana, California, serving about 310,539 people, including Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Orange. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 28 times across 12 sampling points between Mar 2023 and Apr 2026.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: 6:2 FTS, PFEESA, PFHpS, PFPeS, NFDHA, PFMBA, PFMPA, 4:2 FTS, PFBA, HFPO-DA, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, NEtFOSAA, PFTA, 8:2 FTS, PFTrDA, PFUnA, NMeFOSAA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFNA, PFDA, PFDoA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 42.4 ppb, detected in 9 of 27 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
All 707 tested systems in California
ZIP codes served
92643 92666 92701 92702 92703 92704 92705 92706 92707 92708 92711 92712 92735 92799 92843 92866
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 City of Santa Ana water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID CA3010038. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/california/city-of-santa-ana/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID CA3010038). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
