Is pfas a problem in California drinking water?

PFAS was detected in California water systems but within the EPA limit of 4 ppt (PFOA/PFOS). Check the ZIP code table on this page for area-specific data.

How widespread is pfas in California water?

No pfas detections were reported in California in the exported EPA records.

PFAS · California

PFAS in California Drinking Water — 0 Violations

EPA data analysis for pfas in California drinking water systems

ZIPs with Violations

4 ppt (PFOA/PFOS)

EPA Limit

High

Health Risk

Reverse Osmosis or Granular Activated Carbon

Best Filter Method

PFAS Contamination in California

ZipCheckup analyzed EPA enforcement records across 1,479 ZIP codes in California. 0 ZIP codes have pfas-related violations on record.

EPA Standard for PFAS

The EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for pfas is 4 ppt (PFOA/PFOS), governed by the PFAS NPDWR (2024). Water systems that exceed this limit must take corrective action and notify consumers.

Health Effects of PFAS

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are linked to cancer (kidney, testicular), thyroid disease, immune system suppression, reproductive problems, and elevated cholesterol. These "forever chemicals" persist in the body for years.

How to Remove PFAS From Drinking Water

The most effective treatment for pfas removal is Reverse Osmosis or Granular Activated Carbon. Look for filters certified under NSF 53 / NSF 58 standards.

Check Your ZIP Code

Use the ZipCheckup water quality search to see pfas data for your specific water system in California.

Cities with PFAS Data in California

271 cities in California have pfas testing data available.

Adelanto Alameda Alamo Albany Alhambra Aliso Viejo Alpine Altadena Anaheim Antelope Arcadia Arroyo Grande Artesia Atascadero Atwater Azusa Bakersfield Baldwin Park Banning Barstow

+ 251 more cities

California Water Quality Overview: See statewide water quality rankings on the California water quality page.

Learn more about PFAS: Read the full guide on PFAS in drinking water.

Home → Contaminants → PFAS → California

How to cite this page

APA

ZipCheckup. (2026). PFAS in California Drinking Water — 0 Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/pfas/california/

BibTeX

@misc{zipcheckup-contaminants-pfas-california,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{PFAS in California Drinking Water — 0 Violations}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/pfas/california/}
}

Page version: August 2026.