Water System Report CA

Cal-am Water Company - Duarte

EPA ID: CA1910186 · 24,773 people served · 9 ZIP codes

Throughout five consecutive years of federal water monitoring, Cal-am Water Company - Duarte recorded zero violations — solid performance for a utility serving 24,773 people.

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

C · 63
Avg Safety Score
24,773
People Served
9
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$713K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Cal-am Water Company - Duarte Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$98,189
Median Household Income
294,094
Service Area Population
49%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
78%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Cal-am Water Company - Duarte serves a community with a median household income of $98,189 and an estimated 294,094 residents across its service area. Approximately 78% 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

Cal-am Water Company - Duarte'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

59 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
9 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 87% 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. 32 detections recorded. 13 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 10 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

City of Riverbank
24,834 people
C 17 violations
0 violations
City of Seal Beach
24,937 people
A 0 violations
0 violations
B 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,000
PFAS Treatment $522
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $67
Total Estimated Cost $1,989

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 $1,989 (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

Cal-am Water Company - Duarte (EPA ID: CA1910186) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 24,773 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 9 ZIP codes across 6 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (63/100)

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

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.

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: 6 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 3 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Cal-am Water Company - Duarte (CA1910186) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cal-am Water Company - Duarte water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Cal-am Water Company - Duarte has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Cal-am Water Company - Duarte serve?

Cal-am Water Company - Duarte serves approximately 24,773 people across 9 ZIP codes in California.

Where does Cal-am Water Company - Duarte get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(888) 237-1333
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Address
California American Water; 8657 Grand Avenue; Rosemead, CA 91770-1221

Contact information from California American Water - Duarte system Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorine

Source: California American Water - Duarte system Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from California American Water - Duarte system Consumer Confidence Report:
An assessment of the drinking water sources for the California American Water Duarte water system was completed in February 2003. No man-made contaminants have been detected in most of the groundwater supplies. The sources are considered vulnerable to the following activities (although not associated with any detected chemicals): historic waste dumps/landfills, chemical/petroleum processing/storage, historic gas stations, historic and active mining operations, research laboratories, and animal feeding operations.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

Historic waste dumps/landfillsChemical/petroleum processing/storageHistoric gas stationsHistoric and active mining operationsResearch laboratoriesAnimal feeding operations

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from California American Water - Duarte system Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
464
Detections
1
Latest sample
10/12/2023
Highest analyte
PFOS: 5.1 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 5.1 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL

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
7,403
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 2022-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 24,773
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 →

Aesthetic water quality

These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.

pH
7.6
How acidic or basic the water is on a 0-14 scale. Drinking water is typically near neutral.
EPA secondary range: 6.5 – 8.5
Fluoride
0.3 ppm
Utility adds fluoride
Measured fluoride concentration in parts per million.
EPA secondary MCL: 2.0 ppm
Alkalinity
178 ppm CaCO₃
Capacity of the water to neutralize acids, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent.
Total dissolved solids
249 ppm
Mineral content remaining after evaporation, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other dissolved substances.
EPA secondary MCL: 500 ppm

Aesthetic measurements from California American Water - Duarte system Consumer Confidence Report.

Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.

Hard water detected in California American Water - Duarte system

Your utility reported water hardness of 179 ppm CaCO₃ (10.5 grains per gallon) in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report. This is in the moderately hard range and may cause scale buildup, reduced appliance lifespan, and dry skin or hair.

Solutions for hard water

There are three common approaches to treating hard water: salt-based ion-exchange softeners (most effective, require salt refills), salt-free conditioners (lower maintenance, scale prevention only), and reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink (cooking and drinking water only). Aquasana, EcoWater, Pelican, and SpringWell are among the major US brands.

Recommended Aquasana system for your hardness level

Paid Partner. ZipCheckup earns commission on Aquasana purchases. We do not test water or verify product effectiveness for specific hardness levels — manufacturer claims are theirs alone. Consult a certified water-quality professional for personalized advice.

Hardness data parsed from this utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report. Severity bands per USGS hard water classification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Cal-am Water Company - Duarte safe to drink?
Cal-am Water Company - Duarte has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Cal-am Water Company - Duarte meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Cal-am Water Company - Duarte serve?
Cal-am Water Company - Duarte serves approximately 24,773 people with drinking water across 9 ZIP codes.
What is Cal-am Water Company - Duarte's water source?
Cal-am Water Company - Duarte draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Cal-am Water Company - Duarte's service area?
The Cal-am Water Company - Duarte service area has a median household income of $98,189. EPA EJScreen data classifies 49% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Cal-am Water Company - Duarte get its water?
Cal-am Water Company - Duarte'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.

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

Cal-am Water Company - Duarte (EPA ID: CA1910186) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems California Cal-am Water Company - Duarte

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