California: drinking water & radon
California has 3,064 active community water systems. Since 2016, 1017 reported health-based violations; 31 had a latest lead result above 15 ppb; 165 measured PFOA or PFOS at or above 4 ppt.
Radon zones in California
tap a countyMost health-based violations
| City of Lindsay 12,659 people | 133 |
| Grindstone Rancheria 150 people | 100 |
| Knoll Enterprises 500 people | 79 |
| Madera Co Md1-Hidden Lake Estates 162 people | 76 |
| Rainbird Valley MWC 238 people | 75 |
| R.S. Mutual Water Company 35 people | 73 |
| Md 42 Still Meadow 100 people | 67 |
| Madera Co Sa16 Sumner Hill 135 people | 63 |
| Fcsa 30 - El Porvenir 241 people | 59 |
| Sierra Linda Mutual Water Co 200 people | 56 |
Highest latest lead (90th percentile)
| Treasure Island 3,864 people | 100 ppb |
| Burlando Heights Mutual Water Co. 44 people | 96 ppb |
| H & J Water Company 86 people | 70 ppb |
| Saint Marie Mobile Home Park 320 people | 63 ppb |
| NPS - Death Valley, Cow Creek/Nevares 88 people | 53 ppb |
| San Simeon CSD 462 people | 45 ppb |
| Washington Water District 330 people | 41.4 ppb |
| Holiday Mobile Village 200 people | 38.4 ppb |
| Sierra Lakes County Water Dist 210 people | 36 ppb |
| Mondavi Farm Worker Center 66 people | 33 ppb |
Highest PFOA / PFOS
| Running Springs Water District 5,268 people | 236.5 ppt |
| Liberty Utilities - Bellflower-Norwalk 72,472 people | 59 ppt |
| Montebello Land & Water Co. 26,554 people | 53 ppt |
| City of Atwater 29,479 people | 45 ppt |
| Downey - City, Water Dept. 110,556 people | 44 ppt |
| City of Sacramento Main 527,979 people | 41.4 ppt |
| City of Clovis 133,118 people | 41 ppt |
| Tract 349 Mutual Water Co. 8,700 people | 36.5 ppt |
| Atascadero State Hospital 1,100 people | 33 ppt |
| Bellflower Municipal Water System 6,032 people | 32.6 ppt |
Largest systems
| Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power 3,875,566 people | 3,875,566 |
| East Bay MUD 1,468,000 people | 1,468,000 |
| City of San Diego 1,408,937 people | 1,408,937 |
| San Jose Water 1,039,920 people | 1,039,920 |
| SFPUC City Distribution Division 848,019 people | 848,019 |
| Eastern Municipal WD 659,923 people | 659,923 |
| City of Fresno 545,970 people | 545,970 |
| City of Sacramento Main 527,979 people | 527,979 |
| Long Beach Utilities Department 466,772 people | 466,772 |
| Irvine Ranch Water District 450,323 people | 450,323 |
All ZIP codes in California
2,554 ZIP codes.
What this is — and isn’t. These are records your water utility and state reported to the EPA, and the EPA’s radon map for your county. They describe the system and the area, not the water from your own tap or the air in your home. For that, read your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report and test: lead and radon tests are inexpensive.
Questions
How many water systems in California have violations?
1017 of 3,064 active community water systems in California reported at least one health-based violation since 2016 (EPA SDWIS).
What is the radon risk in California?
90 ZIP codes are in EPA radon zone 1 (highest potential), 1,491 in zone 2 and 952 in zone 3. EPA recommends testing every home.