States › California › Kern County

Kern County, CA Water Quality

Water quality data for 50 public water systems serving Kern County, California — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 50 water systems · 83 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Kern County Earns a B

Kern County: 83 communities across 50 water systems. 83.1% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.15 ppb
  • 38 communities with a lead detection, 42 reporting none detected
  • 12 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 0 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 83.1% of communities have no open violations
2.15 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
50
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
83%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Delano
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Ridgecrest
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Wasco
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Rosedale
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Rosamond
    Not reported
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Woody
    13.00 ppb
    Copper above the 1,300 ppb action level
    F
  • East Niles
    1.40 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Arvin
    Not detected
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Fairfax
    1.40 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
  • Bakersfield Country Club
    1.40 ppb
    1 violation currently open
    D
County Lead Level — Median 2.15 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2.15 ppb — 14.3% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
34
5 – 10 ppb
1
10 – 15 ppb
3
No Data
45

All Cities in Kern County

Bakersfield 2.80 ppb C
Delano Not detected A
Oildale Not detected B
Ridgecrest Not detected A
East Niles 1.40 ppb D
Wasco Not detected A
Arvin Not detected D
Shafter Not detected A
Rosedale Not detected A
McFarland Not detected B
Lamont 1.90 ppb B
Rosamond Not reported B
Tehachapi Not detected C
Hillcrest 2.80 ppb C
East Bakersfield 2.80 ppb C
Potomac Park 2.80 ppb C
Golden Hills Not detected C
La Cresta 2.80 ppb C
Taft Not detected A
California City Not detected A
Bear Valley Springs Not detected A
Greenacres Not detected A
Benton Park 2.80 ppb C
Ford City Not detected A
Cottonwood 2.80 ppb C
Rexland Acres 2.80 ppb C
Greenfield 1.01 ppb B
Stallion Springs 1.40 ppb A
Mojave Not reported B
Frazier Park Not detected B
Pine Mountain Club 11.00 ppb B
Old Stine 2.80 ppb C
Lake Isabella 10.00 ppb B
Weedpatch 1.90 ppb B
South Taft Not detected A
Taft Heights Not detected A
Stebbins 0.70 ppb B
Buttonwillow Not detected B
Fairfax 1.40 ppb D
Kernville 7.40 ppb C
Casa Loma 2.80 ppb C
Maricopa Not detected A
Edwards AFB 1.70 ppb A
China Lake Acres Not detected A
Bakersfield Country Club 1.40 ppb D
Mountain Mesa 1.30 ppb B
Boron Not detected B
Lost Hills Not detected B
Lake of the Woods 1.16 ppb C
Dustin Acres Not detected A
Fuller Acres Not detected B
Smith Corner Not detected A
Lebec 2.20 ppb B
North Edwards Not reported B
Inyokern Not detected C
Valley Acres Not detected A
Weldon Not detected B
Bodfish 2.60 ppb B
Onyx 1.00 ppb B
Pumpkin Center 2.80 ppb C
El Adobe Not detected D
Ridgecrest Heights Not detected A
Derby Acres Not detected A
Olde Stockdale 1.40 ppb B
Wofford Heights 3.10 ppb B
Choctaw Valley 0.70 ppb B
Tupman Not detected A
Glennville 1.00 ppb B
Lakeside Not detected B
Keene 2.00 ppb B
Goodmanville 2.10 ppb B
Johannesburg Not detected D
McKittrick Not detected A
Rivergrove 0.90 ppb B
Mettler Not detected D
Woody 13.00 ppb F
Old River Not detected B
Fellows Not detected A
Alta Sierra 2.60 ppb C
Randsburg Not detected D
Mountain Meadows Not detected C
Edison 1.40 ppb D
Mexican Colony Not detected A
Showing 83 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Kern County Drinking Water

Kern County is served by 50 water systems covering 83 communities. 83% have no open violations.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 38 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.15 ppb — 14% of the federal action level. 42 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

12 of 83 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded no significant deficiencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kern County tap water safe to drink?▼
83% of communities have no open violation. 12 of 83 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Kern County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.15 ppb, 14% of the 15 ppb action level. 42 reported none detected and 3 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Kern County?▼
50 community water systems serve 83 communities here.
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