Overview
Legal does not necessarily equal safe.
- Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
- Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
- The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.
AquaPura's analysis shows 18 contaminant(s) detected in San Jose State University's water exceed recommended health guidelines, though they may be within legal limits set by the EPA.
Contaminants Detected
This Utility: 0.47 ppb
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
118x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.004 ppb
0.004 ppb
Bromodichloromethane
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 3.54 ppb
No Legal Limit
59x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.06 ppb
0.06 ppb
Chloroform
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 1.31 ppb
No Legal Limit
3.3x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.4 ppb
0.4 ppb
Chromium (hexavalent)*
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 3.46 ppb
No Legal Limit
173x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.02 ppb
0.02 ppb
Dibromochloromethane
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 4.5 ppb
No Legal Limit
45x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.1 ppb
0.1 ppb
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 36.2 ppb
Legal Limit: 60 ppb
362x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.1 ppb
0.1 ppb
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)*
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 2.98 ppb
No Legal Limit
50x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.06 ppb
0.06 ppb
This Utility: 3.33 ppm
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
24x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.14 ppb
0.14 ppb
This Utility: 2.61 ppm
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
19x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.14 ppb
0.14 ppb
This Utility: 2.8 ppt
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
2,802x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.001 ppb
0.001 ppb
This Utility: 0.376 ppt
Legal Limit: 10 ppb
63x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.006 ppb
0.006 ppb
This Utility: 1.77 ppt
Legal Limit: 4 ppb
5.9x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.3 ppb
0.3 ppb
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.12 ppb
Legal Limit: 5 ppb
2.5x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.05 ppb
0.05 ppb
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 17.7 ppb
Legal Limit: 80 ppb
118x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.15 ppb
0.15 ppb
Trichloroacetic acid
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.5 ppb
No Legal Limit
5x
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.1 ppb
0.1 ppb
This Utility: 0.0625 ppb
Legal Limit: 200 ppb
This Utility: 0.0355 ppb
Legal Limit: 7 ppb
1,2,3-Trichloropropane*
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.000029 ppb
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.0007 ppb
0.0007 ppb
This Utility: 0.198 ppb
No Legal Limit
This Utility: 0.855 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
2000 ppt
2000 ppt
This Utility: 0.429 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
1000 ppt
1000 ppt
This Utility: 0.01 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
1000 ppt
1000 ppt
This Utility: 0.095 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
1000 ppt
1000 ppt
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Potential Effect: cancer
This Utility: 0.171 ppt
Legal Limit: 4 ppt
EWG's Health Guideline:
0.09 ppt
0.09 ppt
This Utility: 0.027 ppt
No Legal Limit
EWG's Health Guideline:
1000 ppt
1000 ppt
Find a Filter
See which water filtration technologies are effective at reducing the contaminants detected in this utility's water supply.
Carbon Filters
Filters 13 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+15 others)
Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.
Pros
- Lower upfront cost
- Reduced maintenance
Cons
- Does not remove all contaminants
Reverse Osmosis
Filters 18 contaminants exceeding guidelines (+23 others)
Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.
Pros
- Most effective
Cons
- Higher upfront cost
- Requires more maintenance
- Wastes water
Other Considerations
Ion Exchange
PROS: Softens hard water, Reduces some contaminants
CONS: Doesn't remove all contaminants
Whole-House Filters
PROS: Useful for reducing radiologicals and TCE
CONS: Expensive to install and maintain, Risk of bacterial contamination
Explore filter options for each contaminant. See which technologies are effective at reducing specific contaminants.
| Contaminant | Activated Carbon | Reverse Osmosis | Ion Exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminants Above Health Guidelines | |||
| Arsenic | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bromodichloromethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Bromoform | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Chloroform | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Chromium (hexavalent)* | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dibromoacetic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Dibromochloromethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Dichloroacetic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9)* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Nitrate | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Nitrate and nitrite | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Trichloroacetic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Other Contaminants Detected | |||
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| 1,4-Dioxane | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Aluminum | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Asbestos | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Barium | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bromochloromethane | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Chlorate* | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Chlorodifluoromethane | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Fluoride | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Lithium | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manganese | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Molybdenum | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Monobromoacetic acid* | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Monochloroacetic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Selenium | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ |
| Strontium* | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vanadium* | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Protect your family's health.
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