States › California › Orange County

Orange County, CA Water Quality

Water quality data for 29 public water systems serving Orange County, California — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 29 water systems · 45 cities
✅
Excellent — All Systems Performing Well

Water quality across the county is outstanding with minimal violations and very low lead levels.

A

Orange County Earns a A

Orange County: 45 communities across 29 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 2.20 ppb
  • 12 communities with a lead detection, 33 reporting none detected
  • 14 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 1 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
2.2 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
29
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
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
  • Irvine
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Costa Mesa
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Newport Beach
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Lake Forest
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Yorba Linda
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
⚠ Needs Attention
  • Fullerton
    1.50 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 5 sampling points
    C
  • Anaheim
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 14 sampling points
    C
  • Santa Ana
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 4 of 11 sampling points
    C
  • Garden Grove
    Not detected
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 10 sampling points
    C
  • Orange
    2.33 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 2 of 10 sampling points
    C
County Lead Level — Median 2.2 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 2.2 ppb — 14.7% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
11
5 – 10 ppb
1
No Data
33

All Cities in Orange County

Anaheim Not detected C
Irvine Not detected A
Santa Ana Not detected C
Huntington Beach Not detected B
Garden Grove Not detected C
Fullerton 1.50 ppb C
Orange 2.33 ppb C
Costa Mesa Not detected A
Buena Park Not detected B
Westminster 4.70 ppb B
Newport Beach Not detected A
Lake Forest Not detected A
Yorba Linda Not detected A
Laguna Niguel Not detected A
La Habra Not detected A
Fountain Valley 6.00 ppb A
Cypress 2.20 ppb C
Mission Viejo Not detected A
San Clemente Not detected A
Brea Not detected A
Placentia 2.50 ppb B
Stanton 2.20 ppb C
San Juan Capistrano Not detected A
Aliso Viejo Not detected A
Tustin Not detected A
Rancho Santa Margarita Not detected A
Ladera Ranch Not detected A
Seal Beach Not detected A
Laguna Beach Not detected A
Laguna Woods 0.80 ppb A
North Tustin Not detected A
Laguna Hills Not detected A
Coto de Caza Not detected A
Los Alamitos 2.20 ppb C
Dana Point Not detected A
Rossmoor 2.20 ppb C
Rancho Mission Viejo Not detected A
Villa Park Not detected A
Las Flores Not detected A
Midway City Not detected B
La Palma 2.20 ppb C
Trabuco Canyon 3.90 ppb B
Silverado Not detected A
Modjeska Not detected A
Williams Canyon Not detected A
Showing 45 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Orange County Drinking Water

Orange County is served by 29 water systems covering 45 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 12 recorded a detection, with a median of 2.20 ppb — 15% of the federal action level. 33 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

14 of 45 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 1 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orange County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Orange County has an open violation on record. 14 of 45 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Orange County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 2.20 ppb, 15% of the 15 ppb action level. 33 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Orange County?▼
29 community water systems serve 45 communities here.
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