San Diego Water Quality Report
31 cities ranked · Average grade: B- · California
Avg Score
73.7
Cities Ranked
31
Health Violations
25
PFAS Detected
22
73.7
County avg score
31
Cities ranked
65%
A or B grade
26%
D or F grade
25
Health violations
22
PFAS detected
Grade Distribution
How San Diego cities scored
A
13
42%
Excellent
B
7
23%
Good
C
3
10%
Fair
D
4
13%
Poor
F
4
13%
Failing
Comparison
County vs California average
▼ 2.8 pts below state average
City Map
Water quality across San Diego
Each dot is a city, colored by grade. Click any city to view its full report.
Highlights
Top & bottom cities in San Diego
County context
1
Superfund site in San Diego
28,000
lbs/yr to surface water · top 10 TRI facilities
Industrial pollution
Top industrial polluters in San Diego
Industrial polluters nearby
Facilities reporting the most surface-water releases in San Diego, 2023.
Total reported releases to surface water: 28,000 lbs
| Facility | Top chemical | To surface water (lbs/yr) |
|---|---|---|
US NAVY NAVAL AIR FACILITY EL CENTRO EL CENTRO, CA92243 | Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution) | 28,000 |
SPRECKELS SUGAR CO INC. BRAWLEY, CA92227 | — | — |
MESQUITE MINE BRAWLEY, CA92227 | — | — |
US GYPSUM CO EL CENTRO, CA92243 | — | — |
U.S. MARINE CORPS CHOCOLATE MOUNTAINS AERIAL GUNNERY RANGE NILAND, CA92257 | — | — |
Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023
Superfund sites
Superfund sites in San Diego
Superfund sites nearby
Federally tracked hazardous-waste sites within San Diego on the EPA National Priorities List.
- STOKER CHEMICAL
Source: EPA Superfund National Priorities List
Full Rankings
All 31 cities in San Diego
| # | City | Grade | Score | Score | Population | Violations | Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Mesa | A+ | 96.9 | 278K | 0 | Zero violations | |
| 2 | Carlsbad | A+ | 96.5 | 95K | 0 | Zero violations | |
| 3 | Jacumba | A+ | 96.4 | 561 | 8 | ||
| 4 | Borrego Springs | A+ | 96.2 | 3K | 6 | Health | |
| 5 | Palomar Mtn Road | A+ | 95.7 | 13K | 8 | Health | |
| 6 | Imperial Beach | A | 94.7 | 106K | 1 | Health | |
| 7 | Palomar Mountain | A | 93.4 | 4K | 16 | Health Unresolved | |
| 8 | Fallbrook | A | 91.6 | 59K | 7 | Health Unresolved | |
| 9 | Poway | A- | 89.7 | 50K | 2 | Unresolved | |
| 10 | Oceanside | A- | 88.8 | 171K | 4 | Health Unresolved | |
| 11 | Lakeside | A- | 88.8 | 36K | 7 | PFAS | |
| 12 | Vista | A- | 87.7 | 132K | 2 | Unresolved | |
| 13 | Rancho Santa Fe | A- | 86.1 | 22K | 16 | Health Unresolved | |
| 14 | Chula Vista | B+ | 83.8 | 191K | 2 | Health PFAS Unresolved | |
| 15 | Camp Pendleton | B | 79.6 | 55K | 28 | Health Unresolved | |
| 16 | Spring Valley | B | 79.5 | 239K | 71 | Health Unresolved | |
| 17 | Santee | B | 78.5 | 94K | 56 | Health Unresolved | |
| 18 | Escondido | B | 78 | 172K | 62 | Health Unresolved | |
| 19 | Del Mar | B- | 73.2 | 4K | 16 | Health Unresolved | |
| 20 | Pine Valley | B- | 73.1 | 3K | 34 | Health | |
| 21 | Jamul | C+ | 67.9 | 14K | 35 | Health Unresolved | |
| 22 | Ramona | C | 62.5 | 37K | 100 | Health Unresolved | |
| 23 | Alpine | C- | 55 | 10K | 195 | Health Unresolved | |
| 24 | San Marcos | D | 49 | 114K | 96 | Health Unresolved | |
| 25 | Campo | D | 48.1 | 1K | 207 | Health Unresolved | |
| 26 | Santa Ysabel | D | 48 | 10K | 616 | Health Unresolved | |
| 27 | Julian | D | 46.8 | 38K | 240 | Health Unresolved | |
| 28 | Pauma Valley | F | 43 | 10K | 505 | Health Unresolved | |
| 29 | Encinitas | F | 41.5 | 127K | 185 | Health PFAS Unresolved | |
| 30 | San Diego | F | 39.7 | 1.4M | 184 | Health Unresolved | |
| 31 | Valley Center | F | 35 | 39K | 495 | Health PFAS Unresolved |