The Nation's Dirtiest Cities for Air & Water

California has 11 out of the top 15 most polluted cities in the U.S. measured by air quality and contaminants detrimental to health. But the air quality is only one aspect when considering quality of life issues--humans and animals need clean water, too. How does California rank in the top 10 dirtiest cities, which combines air & water quality to rank cities appearing on both lists and having the highest levels of contaminants.

Top 10 Dirtiest Cities in U.S.

1. Fresno, CA
2. Bakersfield, CA
3. Philadelphia, PA
4. Bridgeport, Conn.
5. Modesto, CA
6. Riverside, CA
7. New Haven, Conn.
8. San Jose, CA
9. Stockton, CA
10. Milwaukee, Wisc.

1. Fresno, Calif. comprised of Fresno-Madera metro area ranks #1 dirties city in America for its power-punch combo of groundwater polluted by agriculture and air quality. An approx. 500,000 people are exposed to the 5th to 6th worst year-round particle pollution in the nation.
Sperling Air Quality Index: 1
Sperling Water Quality Index: 22

2. Bakersfield-Delano, Calif. in the Central Valley is known for its oil fields, oil museums, and oil industry. Emissions from oil and gas processing in some of the oldest and biggest fields in the U.S. contribute to the already difficult situation of trapped pollution blown inland from the nation's biggest cities located on the coast. Central Valley air pollution in Bakersfield is the worst in the U.S. measured as particle pollution. An approx. 800,000 people in the region are exposed to compromised air and water quality.
Sperling Air Quality Index: 1
Sperling Water Quality Index: 42


3. Philadelphia, PA
4. Bridgeport, Conn.

5. Modesto, Calif.
Modesto is another polluted city in California's Central Valley. It's 500,000 people have a 15.5% unemployment rate, rank 5th in short-term particle pollution and 11th in ozone.
Sperling Air Quality Index: 6
Sperling Water Quality Index 34



6. Riverside, Calif.

The 4.2 million residents of the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area suffer from high levels of ozone. In 2009 the EPA placed on the Superfund list a site the for decades manufactured explosives, rocket motors and fireworks, and which leaked perchlorate and trichloroethylene, destroying drinking water supplies. Sperling Air Quality Index: 1 Sperling Water Quality Index: 49

7. New Haven, Conn.

8. San Jose, Calif.

You don't equate Silicon Valley with pollution, but the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area is home to more than a dozen Superfund sites where chipmakers like Fairchild and Intel leaked toxic solvents into the earth. Ozone pollution is also a problem. Sperling Air Quality Index: 13 Sperling Water Quality Index: 30


9. Stockton, Calif.

Stockton summer heat exacerbates ozone levels that rank 23rd in the nation. Population is 650,000. The city has little means to fund environmental initiatives. It has sought to avert bankruptcy by laying off city employees, including a quarter of its police force. Sperling Air Quality Index: 15 Sperling Water Quality Index: 35

10. Milwaukee, WI

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