Santa Cruz County, CA

ZIP 95017

In ZIP 95017, 3 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: San Lorenzo Valley Water Dist meets every EPA legal limit; 19 contaminants are above health goals, led by pfos at 2.5× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: Watkins-Johnson Co. (stewart Division Plant), 7.4 miles away.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Tesla Inc. (92%), mostly cobalt compounds.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 6.6 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 702,318 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 95017

• Superfund sites nearbyC
• Factories and industrial sitesA
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyB
• Air qualityA
• Drinking water qualityD to F
• Pesticide useF
• Neighborhood health statusC
• Past wildfire impactsF
• Past flood impactsB
• Noise levelsA

Based on 1 census tract · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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