Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Merced?
Yes, Merced's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Merced has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Merced's water utility, City of Merced, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. This assessment is based on the City of Merced water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Merced Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Merced tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Merced's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Merced Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named City of Merced for Merced in California. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
Is there Lead in Merced Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Merced water system, City of Merced, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Merced water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Merced contained more lead.
While Merced water testing may have found 0.0 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Merced Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Castle Air Force Base - near Merced with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Merced has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Merced Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Phone: | 209-385-6800 |
| By Email: | elwink@cityofmerced.org |
| By Mail: | 1776 Grogan Avenue MERCED, CA, 95341 |
Existing customers can login to their City of Merced account to pay their Merced water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your City of Merced bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Merced water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Merced water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Merced means you will often need to put the water in your name with City of Merced. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Merced means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with City of Merced. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.58 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Merced, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Merced Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Merced's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
City Of Merced
Consumer Confidence Report
Reporting Year 2020
This Annual Consumer Confidence Report, prepared in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board— Division of Drinking Water, provides important information about Merced’s water supply, water quality, and water delivery system. Test results for Merced’s 2020 Water Quality Monitoring Program are summarized on the following pages. It is important to read the messages within this report regarding various water quality issues from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and from your City of Merced Water Division.
Este informe contiene información muy mportante sobre su agua potable. Tradúzcalo ó hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.
Daimntawv tshaj tawm no muaj lus tseemceeb txog koj cov dej haus. Tshab txhais nws, los yog tham nrog tej tug neeg uas totaub txog nws.
THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was originally passed by Congress in 1974 to pro- tect public health by regulating the nation’s public drinking water supply. SDWA authoriz- es the United States Environmental Protec- tion Agency (US EPA) to set national health- based standards for drinking water to protect against both
SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT
An assessment of the drinking water source for the City of Merced's water system was completed in March 2003. The source is considered vulnerable from the following activities: gas stations (current and historic), dry cleaners, leaking underground storage tanks, sewer collection system, chemical/petroleum pipeline, fertilizer, pesticide/ herbicide application, agricultural drainage, farm chemical distributor/application service, low density septic system, agricultural wells, and irrigation wells. A copy of the complete assessment is available at the City of Merced, Public Works Department at 1776 Grogan Avenue, Merced, CA. You may request a summary of the assessment by contacting the Administration Office at (209)
DRINKING WATER FLUORIDATION
Our water system is treated by adding fluoride to the naturally occurring level to help prevent tooth decay. State regulations require the fluoride levels in the treated water be at an optimum dose of 0.70ppm (parts per million). Our monitoring showed the fluoride levels in the treated water ranged from 0.40ppm - 0.93ppm with an average of 0.70ppm. Information about fluoridation, oral health, and current issues is available by visiting www.waterboards.ca.gov/drinking_water/certlic/ drinkingwater/Fluoridation.shtml.
SAFETY 1ST
Before you build that pool, plant those trees or add a mailbox, call 811 to have the underground lines marked. It saves time, money and could also save lives.
Remember, Safety 1st is always the right answer!
This report has been printed on recycled paper.
MEET YOUR WATER DEPARTMENT
The men and women of the City Water Department work hard for you, our residents, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Safety is our top concern, for you, as well as, each other. We take great pride in working professionally and diligently to stay on top of pipeline repairs, water leaks, meter installations, water sampling, backflows, wellsite maintenance and service lines.
If you see any of these dedicated employees, wave or say hello!
LEAD IN HOME PLUMBING
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. We are responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead and want your water tested, call us for information at (209)
KEEP YOUR EYE ON WATER
Understanding your water use is an important part of conserving water. EyeOnWater is a free tool that allows City of Merced customers to connect to their water utility accounts and view their latest water usage on their desktop or mobile device. EyeOnWater helps customers understand their water usage, detect leaks, and discover their watering trends. Customers can sign up by visiting eyeonwater.com/signup.
CITY OF MERCED WEBSITE
The City of Merced has updated it’s website to provide the latest information on council meetings, employment opportunities and the ability to pay your water bill online. Visit us at www.cityofmerced.org for information on our parks, how to apply for a committee or to look up services from any of our Public Works departments.
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS - Join us!
The City Council meets every first and third Monday of the month beginning at 6:00 pm at the Civic Center located at 678 W. 18th St., Merced. The public is encouraged to attend.
SUBSTANCES THAT COULD BE IN WATER
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occur- ring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the State Water Re- source Control Board (State Board/SWRCB) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by pub- lic water systems. State Board regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled wa- ter that must provide the same protection for public health. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not neces- sarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and po- tential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)
WHERE DOES THE CITY OF MERCED GET IT’S WATER?
The City of Merced supplies water through the operation of 20 active wells throughout the City. These wells draw water from the Merced Groundwater Subbasin. Each site can produce over 1,500 gallons per minute. The distribution system is well over 500 miles long, includes over 25,000 service connections, nearly 3,000 fire hydrants and approximately 25,000 water meters, 7,000 main line valves and over 2,100 backflow devices. In 2020, these wells pumped
6.5 billion gallons of water to residents, busi- nesses, and commercial properties.
HOW DO WE MEASURE UP
The City of Merced is proud to announce once again
that your tap water met or surpassed all US EPA and State drinking water health standards. The City of Merced Water Department works around the clock to ensure the drinking water we deliver to our customers is of the highest quality and meets all safety requirements. In an effort to meet Federal and State standards for drinking water, our highly trained, certified treatment operators monitor our water treatment operations contin- uously. In 2020, we tested for more than 150 contami- nants in the water and collected over 4,000 samples taken throughout our water system. If you have any questions about your drinking water or the contents of this report, please call the Water Division at
For a copy of this report visit our website at:
cityofmerced.org/PublicWorks/Water/ConsumerConfidenceReport
or call (209)
IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION
Some people may be more vulnerable to con- taminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants, may be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The USEPA/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infec- tion by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)
The tables below list all drinking water contaminants that we tested for and detected according to State drinking water requirements. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless noted, the data presented in this report are from testing accomplished from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The State allows us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not frequently change. In these cases, the most recent sample data are included, along with the year in which the samples were collected.
REGULATED CONTAMINANTS WITH PRIMARY DRINKING WATER STANDARDS: Enforceable standards and treatment techniques to protect public health by limiting the levels of contaminants in drinking water.
|
SUBSTANCE |
YEAR |
MCL |
PHG (MCLG) |
AVERAGE |
RANGE |
|
|
|
|
|
(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
SAMPLED |
[MRDL] |
[MRDLG] |
DETECTED |
VIOLATION |
TYPICAL SOURCE |
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1,2,3 Trichloropropane [TCP] (ppt) |
2018 |
5 |
0.7 |
0.1 |
ND - 0.65 |
No |
Industrial solvents; cleaning and degreasing agent; paint remover |
|
|
|
Arsenic¹ (ppb) |
2019 / 2020 |
10 |
0.004 |
3.9 |
2.1 - 8.1 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; glass and electronics production wastes |
||
|
Barium (ppm) |
2019 |
1 |
2 |
0.23 |
0.13 |
- 0.48 |
No |
Discharges of oil drilling wastes and from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits |
|
|
Chlorine (ppm) |
2020 |
[4.0 (as Cl2)] |
[4.0 (as Cl2)] |
0.73 |
0.3 - |
1.08 |
No |
Drinking water disinfectant added for treatment |
|
|
Chromium [Total] (ppm) |
2019 |
50 |
(100) |
0.44 |
ND - 4.8 |
No |
Discharge from steel and pulp mills and chrome plating; erosion of natural deposits |
||
|
Fluoride (ppm) |
2019 / 2020 |
2 |
1 |
0.12 |
ND - 0.18 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive that promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer |
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and aluminum factories |
|
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Gross Alpha Particle Activity (pCi/L) |
2017 |
15 |
(0) |
2.4 |
ND - 12 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
||
|
Gross Beta Particle Activity² (pCi/L) |
2017 |
50 |
(0) |
6.1 |
ND - 11 |
No |
Decay of natural and |
|
|
|
Nitrate3 (as N) (ppm) |
2020 |
10 |
10 |
2.5 |
1.3 - 4.8 |
No |
Runoff and leaching from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks and sewage; erosion of natu- |
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ral deposits |
|
|
Tetrachloroethylene [PCE]4 (ppb) |
2020 |
5 |
0.06 |
0.09 |
ND - 1.6 |
No |
Discharge from factories, dry cleaners, and auto shops (metal degreaser) |
|
|
|
Trichloroethylene [TCE] (ppb) |
2020 |
5 |
1.7 |
0.01 |
ND - 0.57 |
No |
Discharge from metal degreasing sites and other factories |
||
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Uranium (ppb) |
2017 |
30 |
0 |
2.4 |
ND - 8.7 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits |
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REGULATED CONTAMINANTS WITH SECONDARY DRINKING WATER STANDARDS:
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SUBSTANCE |
YEAR |
MCL |
PHG (MCLG) |
AVERAGE |
RANGE |
|
|
|
|
|
(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
SAMPLED |
[MRDL] |
[MRDLG] |
DETECTED |
VIOLATION |
TYPICAL SOURCE |
|||
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|
|
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|
Chloride (ppm) |
2019 |
500 |
NS |
8.6 |
4.5 - 14 |
No |
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; seawater influence |
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Color (Units) |
2019 |
15 |
NS |
0.26 |
ND - 5 |
No |
Naturally occurring organic materials |
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Corrosivity5 (Units) |
|
Non- |
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|
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Natural or industrially influenced balance of hydrogen, carbon and oxygen in the water; affected |
|
|
2019 |
NS |
11.8 |
11 - 12 |
No |
by temperature and other factors |
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corrosive |
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Manganese (ppb) |
2019 |
50 |
NS |
0.13 |
ND - 2.5 |
No |
Leaching from natural deposits |
||
|
2019 / 2020 |
3 Units |
NS |
0.11 |
ND - 1.0 |
No |
Naturally occurring organic materials |
|
||
|
pH, Laboratory |
2019 |
6.5 - 8.5 |
NS |
7.8 |
7.5 |
- 8.1 |
No |
Low pH: bitter metallic taste, corrosion. High pH: slippery feel, soda taste; deposits |
|
|
Sulfate (ppm) |
2019 |
500 |
NS |
9.2 |
5.9 - 12 |
No |
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; industrial wastes |
||
|
Specific Conductance (μS/cm) |
2019 |
1600 |
NS |
349 |
220 |
- 580 |
No |
Substances that form ions when in water; seawater influence |
|
|
Total Dissolved Solids (ppm) |
2019 |
1,000 |
NS |
258 |
190 |
- 380 |
No |
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits |
|
|
Turbidity (NTU) |
2019 |
5 |
NS |
0.12 |
0.10 |
- 0.86 |
No |
Soil runoff |
|
Tap water samples were collected for lead and copper analyses from households meeting criteria within city limits. The next Lead & Copper event is scheduled for 2021.
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AVERAGE |
SITES ABOVE |
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SUBSTANCE |
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YEAR |
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PHG |
DETECTED |
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AL/ |
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(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
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SAMPLED |
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AL |
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(MCLG) |
90TH %TILE |
TOTAL SITES |
VIOLATION |
TYPICAL SOURCE |
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Copper (ppm) |
|
2018 |
|
|
1.3 |
|
0.3 |
0.2 |
0/45 |
No |
Internal corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from |
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wood preservatives |
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Lead (ppb) |
|
2018 |
|
|
15 |
|
0.2 |
ND |
0/45 |
No |
Internal corrosion of household water plumbing systems; discharges from industrial manufactur- |
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ers; erosion of natural deposits |
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6 - |
No MCL, PHG or MCLG |
Units of Measure and the equivalence : |
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UNREGULATED AND OTHER SUBSTANCES |
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SUBSTANCE |
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YEAR |
AVERAGE |
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RANGE |
To help you better understand the units of measure listed with substances and results (ex: ppm, ppb) please see the table below. If |
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you have any questions, call the Water Department at (209) |
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(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
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SAMPLED |
DETECTED |
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Drinking Water. |
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2019 |
|
148 |
83 - 300 |
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Bromide (ppb) |
|
|
2018 |
|
70 |
24 - 170 |
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Units |
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Equivalence |
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mg/L - milligrams per liter |
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= ppm - parts per million |
= 1 second in 11.5 days |
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Calcium (ppm) |
|
|
2019 |
|
29.7 |
17 - 57 |
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ug/L - micrograms per liter |
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= ppb - parts per billion |
= 1 second in nearly 32 years |
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Hardness (Total) as CACO₃ (ppm) |
|
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2019 |
|
126 |
63 - 260 |
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Hexavalent Chromium (ppb) |
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2017 |
|
3.5 |
1.6 - 4.7 |
|
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ng/L - nanograms per liter |
|
= ppt - parts per trillion |
= 1 second in nearly 32,000 years |
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Magnesium (ppm) |
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2019/ |
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2020 |
|
11.6 |
4.6 - 24 |
Contaminants that may be present in source water include: |
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Molybdenum (ppb) |
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2016 |
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1.5 |
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ND - 2.9 |
Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural live- |
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**Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) (ng/L) |
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|
2019 |
|
0.11 |
|
ND - 1.6 |
stock operations, and wildlife. |
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Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally occurring or can result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial |
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**Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) (ng/L) |
|
2019 |
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0.14 |
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ND - 1.3 |
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or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. |
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Potassium (ppm) |
|
|
2019 |
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6.8 |
3.3 - 12 |
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Pesticides and Herbicides, that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses. |
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Sodium (ppm) |
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2019 |
|
24 |
14 - 35 |
Organic Chemical Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals; |
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Toluidine (ppb) |
|
|
2018 |
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0.0019 |
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ND |
production, which can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural applications, and septic systems. |
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Radioactive Contaminants that can be naturally occurring or can be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. |
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Arsenic results at Well Site 2 for all three wells are within the blending MCL of 10 ppb. All other well sites were below the MCL. While your drinking water meets the Federal and State standard for arsenic, it does contain low levels of arsenic.
The arsenic standard balances the current understanding of arsenic’s possible health effects against the cost of removing arsenic from drinking water. The U.S. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of arsenic, which is a mineral known to cause cancer in humans at high concentrations and is linked to other health effects such as skin damage and circulatory problems. - SWRCB considers 50 pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles.
- Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 mg/L is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. Such nitrate levels in drinking water can interfere with the capacity of the infant’s blood to carry oxygen, resulting in a serious illness; symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L may also affect the ability of the blood to carry oxygen in other individuals, such as pregnant women and those with specific enzyme deficiencies. If you are caring for an infant, or you are pregnant, you should ask advice from your health care provider.
- While your drinking water meets Federal and State standards, it may contain low levels of contaminants below detection limits and below the Regulatory Action Level. The PCE and TCE standard balances the current understanding of possi- ble health effects against the cost of removing contaminants from the drinking water. The U.S. EPA continues to research the health effects of low levels of PCE and TCE.
- Corrosivity is not a National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program accredited analyte. All sampling results are based and calculated on an average of 20 production wells.
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Unregulated contaminant monitoring helps the U.S. EPA and the State Water Board to determine where certain contaminants occur and whether the contami- nants need to be regulated.
* *There is no MCL for PFOA or PFOS; however, there is an established Notifica- tion Level (NL). In August 2019, the Division of Drinking Water (DDW) lowered the PFOA NL from 14 ppt to 5.1 ppt and the PFOS NL from 13 ppt to 6.5 ppt.
DEFINITIONS
AL (Regulatory Action Level): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs (SMCLs) are set to protect the odor, taste and appearance of drinking water.
MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. EPA.
MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evi- dence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
MRDLG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or ex- pected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
ND (Not detected): Indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis .
NL (Notification Level)
pCi/L (picocuries per liter): A measure of radioactivity.
PHG (Public Health Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.
PDWS (Primary Drinking Water Standard): MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health along with their monitoring and report- ing requirements, and water treatment requirements.
PHG (Public Health Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California EPA.
- (Treatment Technique): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. mg/L; ug/L; ng/L; ppm; ppb; ppt: listed above in the equivalence table
www.cityofmerced.org
Contaminants
City of Merced
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the California State Water Resources Control Board, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 81130
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Groundwater
- Total: 25
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Arsenic
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Nitrate
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Uranium
Other Detected Contaminants
- 1%2C4-Dioxane
- Aluminum
- Barium
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chlorate
- Chlorodifluoromethane
- Chloroform
- Chloromethane
- Chromium (total)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Fluoride
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Strontium
- Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
- Trichloroethylene
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
The Annual Consumer Confidence Report, prepared in partnership with the California State Water Resources Control Board— Division of Drinking Water, gives important information about Merced’s water supply, quality of water, and water delivery system. Test results for Merced’s 2020 Water Quality Monitoring Program are compiled on the following pages. It is important to read the messages within this report regarding various water quality issues from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and from your City of Merced Water Division.
WHERE DOES THE CITY OF MERCED GET ITS WATER?
The City of Merced supplies water into the operation of 20 active wells throughout the City. These wells pull water from the Merced Groundwater Subbasin. Each section can provide over 1,500 gallons per minute. The distribution system is well over 500 miles long, covers over 25,000 service connections, nearly 3,000 fire hydrants, nearly 25,000 water meters, 7,000 mainline valves, and over 2,100 backflow devices. In 2020, these wells drew 6.5 billion gallons of water to residents, businesses, and commercial properties.