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Porterville, CA Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Porterville, City Of PWSID: CA5410010 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit at 5 of 28 sampling points

Lead was not detected. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 5 of 28 sampling points, running as high as 5.25 times the limit.

F

Porterville earns an F for water quality

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

Lead: not detected
PFAS above the federal limit at 5 of 28 sampling points
2 violations since 2015, 1 health-based
1 violation currently open
Porterville'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
49969
~17666 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
1
1 open of 2 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)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2024 Unaddressed
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS REPORTING FAILURE — — 2024 Unaddressed
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

1 violation remains open, out of 2 recorded since 2015 (1 health-based).

About the Main Water System

Utility Porterville, City Of
PWSID CA5410010
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 49,969
Service connections 17,666
Systems serving this area 4
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Porterville tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 5 of 28 sampling points. 1 violation(s) remain open.
Does Porterville water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 5 of 28 sampling points, running as high as 5.25 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Porterville? ▼
Porterville, City Of (PWSID CA5410010), one of 4 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2026-02-03. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Porterville Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
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
Follow the open violation
This system has an unresolved violation. Contact the supplier for its corrective-action schedule.

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