Serving roughly 191,282 people in San Diego County, California.
Data current as of July 2026
🔍Straight from EPA
🧪Real Lab Results
📅Updated Quarterly
🏠Local Expertise
Results for SWEETWATER AUTHORITY
1 water provider directly on file, serving roughly 191,282 people in San Diego County, California.
Quick answer: SWEETWATER AUTHORITY has no violations on file. One reading is worth knowing about: PFBS was measured at 0.0075µg/L, among the highest of the 414 providers on file in this area. It's the most notable figure in this system's record among its 414 local peers.
Lead Summary
PFHPA
PFBS
PFPEA
PFBA
PFHXS
PFOS
PFOA
PFHXA
Lithium
Bromide
Sulfate
Fluoride
Turbidity
Odor
Boron, Total
Molybdenum, Total
Vanadium, Total
Manganese
Chromium, Hex
Color
Nitrate
Perfluorobutanesulfonicacid (PFBS)
Perfluorohexanesulfonicacid (PFHxS)
Perfluoroctanesulfonicacid (PFOS)
Perfluoroctanoicacid (PFOA)
Perfluorohexanoicacid (PFHXA)
Perfluorobutanoicacid (PFBA)
Perfluoropentanoicacid (PFPEA)
Perfluoropentanesulfonicacid (PFPES)
Iron
Barium
Arsenic
Selenium
Magnesium
Potassium
Sodium
Calcium
Hardness, Total (ASCACO3)
Alkalinity, Total
Alkalinity, Bicarbonate
Alkalinity, Carbonate
Foamingagents (SURFACTANTS)
TDS
Chloride
Perfluoroheptanoicacid (PFHPA)
Perfluorononanoicacid (PFNA)
Gross Beta Particle Activity
pH
Aluminum
Conductivity (at 25°C)
Utility SWEETWATER AUTHORITYPopulation served 191,282Owner Local government
No violations on file
Contaminants found
Metals
Naturally occurring or corrosion-related elements, e.g. lead, arsenic, copper
Lead Summary
Detected: 0 mg/L (ppm)
12/31/2023
Molybdenum, Total
Detected: 0.62 UG/L (ppb)
9/24/2025
Vanadium, Total
Detected: 4.9 UG/L (ppb)
9/24/2025
Manganese
Detected: 1.4 UG/L (ppb)
9/24/2025
Mainly a taste/staining concern at typical levels; long-term neurological research at high chronic exposure is ongoing.
Chromium, Hex
Detected: 0.048 UG/L (ppb)
9/24/2025
Iron
Detected: 47 UG/L (ppb)
9/24/2025
Mostly an aesthetic issue (metallic taste, staining) rather than a health concern at typical levels.
Barium
Detected: 140 UG/L (ppb)
9/23/2025
Arsenic
Detected: 2.1 UG/L (ppb)
9/24/2025
Occurs naturally in some groundwater. Long-term exposure above the legal limit (10 ppb) has been linked to increased cancer risk and cardiovascular disease.
Selenium
Detected: 19 UG/L (ppb)
1/29/2025
Aluminum
Detected: 66 UG/L (ppb)
1/29/2025
Inorganics
Common dissolved minerals and salts, e.g. nitrate, fluoride, chloride
Sulfate
Detected: 46 MG/L (ppm)
2/12/2025
Fluoride
Detected: 0.642 MG/L (ppm)
1/29/2025
Often added deliberately for dental health; can also occur naturally.
Boron, Total
Detected: 610 UG/L (ppb)
9/24/2025
Nitrate
Detected: 0.42 MG/L (ppm)
1/28/2025
Commonly from agricultural fertilizer runoff or septic systems. Above the legal limit, it's an immediate concern especially for infants.
Chloride
Detected: 60 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
Minerals
Everyday minerals that mainly affect taste and water hardness
Magnesium
Detected: 18 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
Potassium
Detected: 3.3 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
Sodium
Detected: 50 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
Calcium
Detected: 34 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
Properties
General water characteristics like pH, hardness, and cloudiness (turbidity)
Hardness, Total (ASCACO3)
Detected: 160 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
pH
Detected: 9 PH
9/24/2025
A measure of how acidic or basic the water is (7 is neutral). Affects taste and plumbing, not a direct health measure.
PFAS & Emerging Contaminants
Human-made "forever chemicals" and other substances not yet fully regulated
PFHPA
Detected: 0.0033 µg/L (ppb)
7/17/2025
PFBS
Detected: 0.0075 µg/L (ppb)
7/17/2025
PFPEA
Detected: 0.005 µg/L (ppb)
7/17/2025
PFBA
Detected: 0.0089 µg/L (ppb)
7/17/2025
PFHXS
Detected: 0.0071 µg/L (ppb)
7/17/2025
PFOS
Detected: 0.005 µg/L (ppb)
7/17/2025
One of two PFAS with an enforceable federal limit (4 ppt) since 2024.
PFOA
Detected: 0.0079 µg/L (ppb)
7/17/2025
One of two PFAS with an enforceable federal limit (4 ppt) since 2024.
PFHXA
Detected: 0.0055 µg/L (ppb)
7/17/2025
Lithium
Detected: 9.75 µg/L (ppb)
7/17/2025
Occurs naturally in some groundwater. Not currently federally regulated in drinking water.
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Industrial solvents and fuel-related chemicals that evaporate easily
Bromide
Detected: 0.69 MG/L (ppm)
2/12/2025
Calculated Parameters
Values worked out mathematically from other test results, not measured directly
Alkalinity, Bicarbonate
Detected: 120 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
Alkalinity, Carbonate
Detected: 19 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
Other
Additional substances tested that don't fit neatly into the categories above
Turbidity
Detected: 9.74 NTU
1/29/2025
A measure of water cloudiness from suspended particles.
Odor
Detected: 1 TON
1/29/2025
Color
Detected: 1 UNITS
1/29/2025
Perfluorobutanesulfonicacid (PFBS)
Detected: 12 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
Perfluorohexanesulfonicacid (PFHxS)
Detected: 12 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
Perfluoroctanesulfonicacid (PFOS)
Detected: 19 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
One of two PFAS with an enforceable federal limit (4 ppt) since 2024.
Perfluoroctanoicacid (PFOA)
Detected: 12 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
One of two PFAS with an enforceable federal limit (4 ppt) since 2024.
Perfluorohexanoicacid (PFHXA)
Detected: 6.5 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
Perfluorobutanoicacid (PFBA)
Detected: 10 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
Perfluoropentanoicacid (PFPEA)
Detected: 7.1 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
Perfluoropentanesulfonicacid (PFPES)
Detected: 1.7 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
Alkalinity, Total
Detected: 130 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
Foamingagents (SURFACTANTS)
Detected: 0.16 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
TDS
Detected: 280 MG/L (ppm)
9/24/2025
Perfluoroheptanoicacid (PFHPA)
Detected: 3.6 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
Perfluorononanoicacid (PFNA)
Detected: 2.9 NG/L (ppt)
8/14/2025
Gross Beta Particle Activity
Detected: 6.35 PCI/L
6/5/2025
Conductivity (at 25°C)
Detected: 550 UMHO/CM
9/24/2025
Filtration considerations: See the table below for how whole-house carbon, under-sink reverse osmosis, and under-sink carbon systems compare against what's actually on file here. These are general system types, not a specific product recommendation.