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Is there PFAS in Santa Fe I.d. water?

Yes, at low levels. 2 PFAS were detected, all below EPA's 2024 limits.

Santa Fe I.d. Serves 21,578 people · 4 PFOA samples from 1 sampling point · Oct 2023 to Jul 2024 PFAS found, below EPA limits
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid not detected
EPA 4
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid not detected
EPA 4

Also detected, no federal limit: PFHxA, PFPeA.

Averages are for the worst sampling point, with non-detects counted as zero. Source: EPA UCMR 5.

Santa Fe I.d. is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Rancho Santa Fe, California, serving about 21,578 people, including Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe, Solana Beach. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 4 times across 1 sampling point between Oct 2023 and Jul 2024.

Every PFAS detected

PFAS Detected Highest Worst point avg EPA limit
PFHxA
Perfluorohexanoic acid
2 of 4 4.5 ppt 1.9 ppt none
PFPeA
Perfluoropentanoic acid
1 of 4 4.3 ppt 1.1 ppt none

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

Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 39.8 ppb, detected in 4 of 4 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

Levels here are under EPA's limits, so no treatment is required. If you want them lower anyway, a certified reverse osmosis system under the sink handles drinking water, and a whole-house carbon filter also takes out the chlorine or chloramine your utility adds.

Other systems in California

All 707 tested systems in California

ZIP codes served

92014 92067 92075 92091

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 Santa Fe I.d. water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID CA3710023. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/california/santa-fe-i-d/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID CA3710023). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.