Is there PFAS in San Jose Water water?
Some. At least one sample reached an EPA limit, but the average at every sampling point stayed below it.
San Jose Water
Serves 1.0 million people · 37 PFOA samples from 19 sampling points · Feb 2023 to Feb 2025
One or more samples at an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
not detected
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
3.1 ppt avg · max 6.2
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
4.4 ppt avg · max 5.5
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.4 avg · max 0.6
San Jose Water is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in San Jose, California, serving about 1.0 million people, including Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, Saratoga, San Jose. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 37 times across 19 sampling points between Feb 2023 and Feb 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFDoA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFHpA, PFBS, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, PFUnA, PFBA, PFHxA, NMeFOSAA, PFHpS, PFMBA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFEESA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFPeA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, HFPO-DA, ADONA, PFMPA, 9Cl-PF3ONS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 10 ppb, detected in 5 of 41 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
95008 95014 95030 95032 95033 95050 95070 95110 95111 95112 95113 95116 95117 95118 95120 95121 95122 95123 95124 95125 95126 95127 95128 95129 95130 95131 95132 95133 95136 95148
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 San Jose Water water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID CA4310011. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/california/san-jose-water/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID CA4310011). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
