What EPA data, PFAS monitoring, and independent health research reveals about San Francisco's drinking water -- and what you can do about it.
SF water comes from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite -- one of the cleanest sources in the country.
SF uses chloramine which creates NDMA and other DBPs that are harder to filter.
PFAS has been detected in some SFPUC water sources above California health goals.
Older SF buildings (pre-1986) have lead solder and some lead service lines still active.
San Francisco water meets EPA legal standards but meeting standards is not the same as being free of contaminants. EPA limits are set based on feasibility, not always on what is safest for health. Enter your ZIP above to see the full violation history and PFAS data for your specific water system.
Even compliant water can contain contaminants at levels above what independent health scientists consider safe -- particularly for PFAS, lead, and chromium-6. An EPA-certified RO system removes 95-99% of all detected contaminants and costs $0.10-$0.25 per gallon, compared to $1-$3 for bottled water.
For most US cities, a reverse osmosis system under the sink is the gold standard -- it removes lead, PFAS, arsenic, nitrates, fluoride, and virtually everything else. For renters, a Waterdrop D4 countertop RO requires zero installation. Enter your ZIP above to get personalized recommendations based on your actual water report.
City-wide data is just the start. Enter your ZIP to see your exact water system's EPA report, PFAS levels, and violation history.
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