# CleanWaterGrade (cleanwatergrade.com)

> Independent US ZIP-code and municipal tap water A-F grading utility built on EPA UCMR5 (PFAS PFOA/PFOS ppt vs 4.0 ppt federal limit), EPA SDWIS 90th-percentile Lead & Copper filings, and USGS Water Hardness (gpg / mg/L) benchmarks.

## Key Tools & Open Data
- [US ZIP Code Tap Water A-F Calculator](https://cleanwatergrade.com/): Instant lookup for 100+ US metro ZIP codes plus 3-digit prefix regional fallback.
- [Open JSON Benchmark Endpoint](https://cleanwatergrade.com/api/v1/benchmarks.json): Machine-readable crosswalk of PWSID, PFAS ppt, Lead ppb, TTHMs, and Hardness gpg across major US cities.

## Pillar Engineering & Regulatory Guides
- [Best Reverse Osmosis Systems 2026 (NSF-58 Tested)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/guides/best-reverse-osmosis-systems-2026): Side-by-side lab spec comparison of Waterdrop G3P800 ($599-$899, 800 GPD tankless, 3:1 ratio), APEC ROES-PH75 ($249), and AquaTru Carafe ($349).
- [Whole-House Water Filter vs. Reverse Osmosis](https://cleanwatergrade.com/guides/whole-house-water-filter-vs-reverse-osmosis): Point-of-Entry (SpringWell CF1+SS1, Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000) vs. Point-of-Use RO contaminant removal matrix.
- [2026 EPA PFAS Drinking Water Limits Explained](https://cleanwatergrade.com/guides/epa-pfas-drinking-water-limits-explained): Breakdown of the 4.0 ppt PFOA/PFOS MCL, 0.0 ppt MCLG health goal, and 2029-2031 utility compliance window.
- [Water Hardness by ZIP Code Chart](https://cleanwatergrade.com/guides/water-hardness-by-zip-code-chart): Ranked grains per gallon (gpg) and mg/L (ppm) table across major US water utilities.

## Top 15 Metro Tap Water Safety Reports
- [San Antonio, TX Tap Water Report (Grade C)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/san-antonio-tx): San Antonio Water System (SAWS, TX0150018) — PFOA/PFOS not detected (<4 ppt, EPA UCMR 5), Lead 1.6 ppb (90th pct), TTHM up to 86.2 ppb, Hardness 15–20 gpg. Transparent scoring rubric.
- [Los Angeles, CA Tap Water Report (Grade D+)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/los-angeles-ca): Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) — PFAS 4.6 ppt, Lead 3.4 ppb, Hardness 16.4 gpg (280 mg/L).
- [Phoenix, AZ Tap Water Report (Grade D+)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/phoenix-az): City of Phoenix Water Services Department — PFAS 5.4 ppt, Lead 4.1 ppb, Hardness 16.8 gpg (287 mg/L).
- [Houston, TX Tap Water Report (Grade D)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/houston-tx): City of Houston Public Works Drinking Water Operations — PFAS 6.2 ppt, Lead 5.2 ppb, Hardness 9.1 gpg (156 mg/L).
- [Las Vegas, NV Tap Water Report (Grade D+)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/las-vegas-nv): Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) — PFAS 3.9 ppt, Lead 2.8 ppb, Hardness 17.5 gpg (299 mg/L).
- [Miami, FL Tap Water Report (Grade D)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/miami-fl): Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (MDWASD) — PFAS 7.8 ppt, Lead 4.9 ppb, Hardness 5.4 gpg (92 mg/L).
- [Chicago, IL Tap Water Report (Grade C-)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/chicago-il): City of Chicago Department of Water Management — PFAS 2.4 ppt, Lead 8.9 ppb, Hardness 8.2 gpg (140 mg/L).
- [San Diego, CA Tap Water Report (Grade C-)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/san-diego-ca): City of San Diego Public Utilities Department — PFAS 3.6 ppt, Lead 3.1 ppb, Hardness 16.1 gpg (275 mg/L).
- [Dallas, TX Tap Water Report (Grade C)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/dallas-tx): Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) — PFAS 4.7 ppt, Lead 3.8 ppb, Hardness 7.9 gpg (135 mg/L).
- [Tampa, FL Tap Water Report (Grade D+)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/tampa-fl): City of Tampa Water Department (Tampa Bay Water) — PFAS 6.9 ppt, Lead 4.4 ppb, Hardness 12.6 gpg (215 mg/L).
- [Philadelphia, PA Tap Water Report (Grade D+)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/philadelphia-pa): Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) — PFAS 5.8 ppt, Lead 6.4 ppb, Hardness 7.6 gpg (130 mg/L).
- [Atlanta, GA Tap Water Report (Grade B-)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/atlanta-ga): City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management — PFAS 3.5 ppt, Lead 2.9 ppb, Hardness 1.8 gpg (31 mg/L).
- [Denver, CO Tap Water Report (Grade B-)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/denver-co): Denver Water — PFAS 2.9 ppt, Lead 6.8 ppb, Hardness 5.2 gpg (89 mg/L).
- [Charlotte, NC Tap Water Report (Grade C+)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/charlotte-nc): Charlotte Water — PFAS 4.4 ppt, Lead 2.6 ppb, Hardness 2.1 gpg (36 mg/L).
- [Sacramento, CA Tap Water Report (Grade C)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/sacramento-ca): City of Sacramento Department of Utilities — PFAS 4.9 ppt, Lead 3.2 ppb, Hardness 5.8 gpg (99 mg/L).
- [Fresno, CA Tap Water Report (Grade D)](https://cleanwatergrade.com/cities/fresno-ca): City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities — PFAS 6.4 ppt, Lead 4.5 ppb, Hardness 11.4 gpg (195 mg/L).