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Rancho Santa Margarita, CA Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Rancho Santa Margarita, CA — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Rancho Santa Margarita's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Santa Margarita Water District PWSID: CA3010101 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

A

Rancho Santa Margarita earns an A for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: not detected
PFAS tested, none detected
No violations since 2015
No violations currently open
Rancho Santa Margarita's lead level vs. all California community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: Not detected — 0% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than % of California utilities
Population Served
27019
~56265 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Active Violations
0
None on record since 2015

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
0% of EPA action level
Not detected
Action level: 15 ppb
Lead was not detected at the 90th percentile — the result fell below the laboratory detection limit. That is not the same as an absence of lead in every tap, and older homes with lead service lines can still show higher readings.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

✓ No violations on record for this water system.
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

No violations are on record for this system since 2015. EPA records violations for every community water system, so this reflects a clean compliance history rather than missing data.

About the Main Water System

Utility Santa Margarita Water District
PWSID CA3010101
Water source Surface water — Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
Population served 27,019
Service connections 56,265
Systems serving this area 2
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rancho Santa Margarita tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open.
Does Rancho Santa Margarita water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Rancho Santa Margarita? ▼
Santa Margarita Water District (PWSID CA3010101), one of 2 systems serving this area. Surface water. Purchased from another system — SDWIS source code SWP
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-10-30. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Rancho Santa Margarita Residents Do?

1
Read your annual water report
Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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