Forest Springs
What EPA’s and California’s records show in this utility’s water: nitrate, arsenic and other regulated chemicals; lead and copper; and violations since 2016, with the certification that handles each result.
- Serves
- 385 people
- Connections
- 126
- Water source
- Surface water bought from another system
- Based in
- Boulder Creek, CA
- County
- Santa Cruz
- Owner
- Private
- Hardness
- Moderately hard
The ZIP code it serves
The short answer
2 results are above the health goal. The worst: Lead, above the health goal. 22 health-based violations since 2016.
What handles itWhat was found
Lead and copper: EPA SDWIS monitoring periods ending 2013 to 2025.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5): California’s own results, samples taken from Aug. 24, 2021 to Aug. 6, 2025, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.
Arsenic, fluoride, chromium (total) and nitrate: EPA’s compliance monitoring file, samples taken from Oct. 23, 2012 to Dec. 11, 2019. Newer results are in the utility’s annual water quality report.
Above the health goal2
Lead
Comes from pipes, often your own
5.9ppb
90th percentile, 2023 to 2025
In the latest period, 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below 5.9 ppb, below EPA’s action level of 15 ppb. The action level drops to 10 ppb on Nov. 1, 2027. EPA’s health goal for lead is zero.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Lead Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Lead Reduction”
Arsenic
Comes from the source
0.55ppb
Highest yearly average, 2014 to 2019
2019: not found
Averaged by year, the highest was 0.55 ppb, in 2014: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. In 2019, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in its one sample.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
Below EPA’s limits3
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)
Forms or is added in treatment
48ppb
Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2025
2025, one sample: 21 ppb
Averaged by year, the highest was 48 ppb, in 2023, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, its one sample was 21 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 16 ppb, in 2018.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Forms or is added in treatment
30ppb
Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2025
2025, one sample: 17 ppb
Averaged by year, the highest was 30 ppb, in 2024, below EPA’s legal limit of 60 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, its one sample was 17 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 12 ppb, in 2018.
What handles it
No certification claim covers this compound yet.
Fluoride
Forms or is added in treatment
0.14ppm
Highest yearly average, 2014 to 2019
2019: not found
Averaged by year, the highest was 0.14 ppm, in 2018, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. In 2019, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in its one sample.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Fluoride Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Fluoride”
2 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
- Chromium (total)
- Nitrate
What handles it
A certification covers specific claims, not a whole standard. Look for these claims on the certifier’s listing, not the box. Wording varies a little: NSF writes “Lead Reduction,” WQA just “Lead.”
- NSF/ANSI 53
Claims: Lead Reduction, Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction
For: Lead, Arsenic
Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (III) (50 ppb influent level)
- NSF/ANSI 58
Claims: Lead Reduction, Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction
For: Lead, Arsenic
Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=300 ppb Reduction; Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)
At the tap, or for the whole house?
Lead and copper usually come from pipes and fixtures inside or near your home. A whole-house system sits where water enters, so it cannot catch what your own plumbing adds after it. For those, the filter that counts is the one at the tap. How whole-house systems compare.
Filters with those claims on a certifier’s listing
Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money
Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis (AQ-SFRO2)
Under-sink reverse osmosis
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: Lead, Arsenic
Brondell Capella RC250 Reverse Osmosis System
Under-sink reverse osmosis
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: Lead, Arsenic
Countertop reverse osmosis
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: Lead, Arsenic
Brita Tahoe Pitcher with Elite Filter (OB60, OB06)
Pitcher
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 13, 2026
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 53checked Oct. 13, 2026
Certified for: Lead
Hardness
Moderately hard, 120 mg/L (7 grains per gallon), at its one sampling point, in 2019.
Hardness is calcium and magnesium. EPA sets no limit for it: it shows up as scale on fixtures and in water heaters, and as soap that won’t lather. USGS calls water above 60 mg/L moderately hard, above 120 hard and above 180 very hard.
Violations since 2016
| Contaminant or rule | Type | Period | Measured | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Nov. 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | Nov. 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Oct. 1, 2016 to Oct. 31, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | Oct. 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Sept. 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | Sept. 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | Aug. 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Aug. 1, 2016 to Aug. 31, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | July 1, 2016 to July 31, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | July 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | June 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | June 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | May 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | May 1, 2016 to May 31, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | April 1, 2016 to April 30, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | April 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | March 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | March 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | Feb. 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Feb. 1, 2016 to Feb. 29, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Jan. 1, 2016 to Jan. 31, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Water drawn from a river, lake or reservoir was not filtered as required.EPA: Failure to Filter (SWTR) | Jan. 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 6 monitoring or reporting violations not shown. | ||||
What this report can’t tell you
Everything else. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) and haloacetic acids (HAA5) results here are California’s own from 2021 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Arsenic, fluoride, chromium (total) and nitrate come from EPA’s file alone, which ends in 2019. Forest Springs’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has newer results for those and the contaminants this page does not show.
Your own plumbing. Lead results are the 90th percentile across homes the utility samples. Your home’s service line, solder and fixtures decide yours. A certified lab test is the only way to know.
What it means for your health. This page reports what the records show and EPA’s limits and goals; it is not medical advice. If you are worried about a health effect, talk to a doctor or your local health department.
Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q3; UCMR 5 didn’t sample this utility; California’s results run from Aug. 24, 2021 to Aug. 6, 2025; EPA’s compliance samples are from Oct. 23, 2012 to Dec. 11, 2019.
Testing your own tap
The 3 labs California certifies closest to the area Forest Springs serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.
Santa Cruz County - Health Services Agency - Environmental Health
Santa Cruz, CA · about 14 miles
Certified for bacteria
Torrent Laboratory, Inc
Milpitas, CA · about 22 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, organic chemicals, disinfection byproducts, PFAS
AEMTEK, Inc
Fremont, CA · about 25 miles
Certified for bacteria, minerals and other inorganics
Sources
- EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, file of Oct. 15, 2026
- EPA SDWA bulk download (SDWIS federal data), 2026 Q3
- California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, results from Jan. 1, 2020 to July 17, 2026, read Oct. 8, 2026
- EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance monitoring data, 2012 to 2019, file of Feb. 5, 2024
- Certified labs: California State Water Resources Control Board, ELAP accredited laboratories and their fields of accreditation, read Oct. 17, 2026; distances from the Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation area gazetteer
- Hardness: California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, results from Dec. 11, 2019 to Dec. 11, 2019, read Oct. 10, 2026
- Limits and goals: each contaminant’s page, with its EPA source.
- How this page is built: methodology.
PWSID CA4400608. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.
What to do next
- Read up on the 2 results above a lineWhat each one does to health, where it comes from, and the certification claim that addresses it.Start with Lead
- Get the utility’s own reportForest Springs must send you a water quality report every year. It covers contaminants this page does not show, and has newer results than EPA’s national file for the ones here that come from it.How to read it
- Test your own tap for leadYour service line, solder and fixtures decide the lead at your faucet, not the utility’s average.Lead in your water: what to do
- Compare certified filtersWhat the filters certified for these results cost over five years, cartridges included.Compare five-year costs