Community Water System · PWS CA2710004
Cal Am Water Company - Monterey
Pacific Grove, California 93950 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 92,450 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 92,450
- People served
- 17
- EPA violations
- 0
- Health-based
- 8 PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 17 drinking-water violations at Cal Am Water Company - Monterey - below the California per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 8 PFAS compounds.
- 17
- Total EPA violations on record
- 0%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 92,450
- People served by this system
- 8
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Cal Am Water Company - Monterey
Cal Am Water Company - Monterey is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 92,450 residents in Pacific Grove, California (Monterey County) through 39,044 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 17 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 15 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2012.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Asbestos, recorded in 3 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 8 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 13.2 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.
Across California, EPA tracks 7,249 public water systems serving 42,404,883 people, with 153,308 cumulative violations and 63,983 health-based violations on record. About 89% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 21.1 violations. Statewide, 447 of 694 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (64.4%).
Cal Am Water Company - Monterey's 17 violations sit below the California average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
8 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Private
- Connections
- 39,044
- County
- Monterey
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 0
- Monitoring Violations
- 15
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos | MR | 3 | 2002 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | MR | 3 | 2002 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 2 | 2007 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 2 | 1993 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 2 | 2012 |
| Nitrate | MR | 2 | 2004 |
| Chlorine | MR | 1 | 2005 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 16 of 754 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFHxS | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 8/7/2023 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 8/7/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 8/7/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 8/7/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 8/7/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 8/7/2023 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 8/7/2023 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 8/7/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 8/7/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 8/7/2023 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 8/7/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 8/7/2023 | 7.30 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 8/7/2023 | 13.20 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFHpA | 8/7/2023 | 3.60 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFHxS | 8/7/2023 | 8.70 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFNA | 8/7/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 8/7/2023 | 9.20 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 8/7/2023 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 8/7/2023 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 8/7/2023 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 8/7/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 8/7/2023 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 8/7/2023 | 5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFMBA | 8/7/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 8/7/2023 | 8.10 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFMPA | 8/7/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 8/7/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Cal Am Water Company - Monterey.
EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID CA2710004 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
California Drinking Water Authority
California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Cal Am Water Company - Monterey under EPA-delegated authority.
Open CA regulator portalSource: California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water
Violation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 2 | SDWIS / CA2710004 / 0300 |
| 2007 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 2 | SDWIS / CA2710004 / 3100 |
| 2005 | Chlorine | MR | 1 | SDWIS / CA2710004 / 0999 |
| 2004 | Nitrate | MR | 2 | SDWIS / CA2710004 / 1040 |
| 2002 | Asbestos | MR | 3 | SDWIS / CA2710004 / 1094 |
| 2002 | Gross Beta Particle Activity | MR | 3 | SDWIS / CA2710004 / 4100 |
| 1993 | Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 2 | SDWIS / CA2710004 / 5000 |
How Cal Am Water Company - Monterey Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Cal Am Water Company - Monterey | California avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 17 | 21.1 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 0 | 8.8 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | 8 compounds | 64.4% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 92,450 | 5,850 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 7,249 regulated public water systems in California.
Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cal Am Water Company - Monterey water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Cal Am Water Company - Monterey serve? ▼
What type of violations does Cal Am Water Company - Monterey have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Cal Am Water Company - Monterey water? ▼
What water source does Cal Am Water Company - Monterey use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.