Health Violations Found CA 5 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Signal Hill - City, Water Department

EPA ID: CA1910149 · 11,848 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Tallying the federal enforcement file for Signal Hill - City, Water Department yields 2 open violations that have not been formally closed — each finding sits in the EPA database while the utility continues to deliver water to approximately 11,848 residents and works through the required corrective action process.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 78
Avg Safety Score
11,848
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
7
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0029 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
3
Contaminants Flagged
$715K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 4 (2022) to 6 (2025). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Signal Hill - City, Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$88,179
Median Household Income
51,626
Service Area Population
49%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
76%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Signal Hill - City, Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $88,179 and an estimated 51,626 residents across its service area. Approximately 76% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 49% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Signal Hill - City, Water Department's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Los Angeles County, California rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

54 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
16 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 77% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Signal Hill - City, Water Department compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

E. coli at 5 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

E. coli was detected in this water system. UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in California

Montecito Water District
11,962 people
0 violations
City of Sonoma
11,725 people
B 4 violations
B 2 violations
0 violations
City of Fortuna
12,133 people
A 7 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $450
Radon Mitigation $200
Total Estimated Cost $1,850

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Property Value Decline $35,750

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$22,875
10 years
$45,750
20 years
$91,500

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,850 (one-time) vs. $45,750 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Signal Hill - City, Water Department (EPA ID: CA1910149) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 11,848 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (78/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

5 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 2 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
April 1, 2025 E. coli Health-based Resolved
March 1, 2025 E. coli Health-based Resolved
February 1, 2025 E. coli Health-based Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
June 1, 2023 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
E. coli Microbiological 5 Yes
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Health Risk Details

E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))

Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.

Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
90755 0.0029 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by CA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Signal Hill - City, Water Department (CA1910149) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Signal Hill - City, Water Department water safe to drink?

Signal Hill - City, Water Department has recorded 5 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Signal Hill - City, Water Department serve?

Signal Hill - City, Water Department serves approximately 11,848 people across 2 ZIP codes in California.

Where does Signal Hill - City, Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
232

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
3,201
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2024-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 11,848
Reported to California

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Signal Hill - City, Water Department safe to drink?
Signal Hill - City, Water Department earns a B safety grade with 7 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Signal Hill - City, Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include E. coli, Stage 1 DBP Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 3 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Signal Hill - City, Water Department serve?
Signal Hill - City, Water Department serves approximately 11,848 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Signal Hill - City, Water Department's water source?
Signal Hill - City, Water Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Signal Hill - City, Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0029 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Signal Hill - City, Water Department's service area?
The Signal Hill - City, Water Department service area has a median household income of $88,179. EPA EJScreen data classifies 49% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Signal Hill - City, Water Department get its water?
Signal Hill - City, Water Department's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Signal Hill - City, Water Department (EPA ID: CA1910149) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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