Water System Report CA

South Montebello Irrigation District

EPA ID: CA1910153 · 15,021 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Five years of EPA monitoring have produced no violations for South Montebello Irrigation District — the supplier serving 15,021 residents has kept every contaminant level within federal limits, a result that places it among the top-performing utilities for systems with a service population of comparable size.

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

15,021
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$641K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for South Montebello Irrigation District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$80,895
Median Household Income
122,436
Service Area Population
49%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
90%
Pre-1986 Housing

The South Montebello Irrigation District serves a community with a median household income of $80,895 and an estimated 122,436 residents across its service area. Approximately 90% 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?

Groundwater

South Montebello Irrigation District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate 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. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

67 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
3 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 96% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 18 detections recorded. 4 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 4 exceed state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.0051 ppt, PFOS: 0.0065 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in California

C 17 violations
California Mens Colony
15,000 people
B 2 violations
0 violations
City of Livingston
14,894 people
A 4 violations
City of Red Bluff
14,710 people
B 4 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,200

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:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,200 (one-time) vs. $330 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

South Montebello Irrigation District (EPA ID: CA1910153) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 15,021 people from groundwater sources.

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

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

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 South Montebello Irrigation District (CA1910153) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South Montebello Irrigation District water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, South Montebello Irrigation District has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does South Montebello Irrigation District serve?

South Montebello Irrigation District serves approximately 15,021 people across 2 ZIP codes in California.

Where does South Montebello Irrigation District get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
116
Detections
14
Latest sample
11/12/2024
Highest analyte
PFOS: 20.1 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 20.1 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOA 8.2 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFPeA 6.7 ppt
PFHxA 6.6 ppt
PFBS 4.9 ppt
PFDA 3.7 ppt

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
2,483
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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 15,021
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
South Montebello Irrigation District meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does South Montebello Irrigation District serve?
South Montebello Irrigation District serves approximately 15,021 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is South Montebello Irrigation District's water source?
South Montebello Irrigation District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of South Montebello Irrigation District's service area?
The South Montebello Irrigation District service area has a median household income of $80,895. EPA EJScreen data classifies 49% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does South Montebello Irrigation District get its water?
South Montebello Irrigation District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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