Water System Report CA

City of Garden Grove

EPA ID: CA3010062 · 174,226 people served · 19 ZIP codes

In every reporting cycle over the past five years, City of Garden Grove has come through without a single EPA violation — a consistent performance across the full service population of approximately 174,226 residents that reflects both well-maintained infrastructure and reliable operational oversight.

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

A · 86
Avg Safety Score
174,226
People Served
19
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.00186 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
0
Contaminants Flagged
$738K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Garden Grove Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$86,336
Median Household Income
759,123
Service Area Population
24%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
10th
Energy Burden Percentile
83%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Garden Grove serves a community with a median household income of $86,336 and an estimated 759,123 residents across its service area. Approximately 83% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

City of Garden Grove'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Orange 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 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

59 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
10 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 86% 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. 100 detections recorded. 38 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 34 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 Santa Rosa
175,396 people
A 1 violation
B 9 violations
City of Oceanside
171,483 people
B 0 violations
B 9 violations
Elsinore Valley Mwd
169,455 people
B 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,167
PFAS Treatment $600
Radon Mitigation $44
Total Estimated Cost $1,811

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 $1,811 (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

CITY OF GARDEN GROVE (EPA ID: CA3010062) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 174,226 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 19 ZIP codes across 9 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: A (86/100)

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

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
92840 0.00186 mg/L No N/A
92841 0.00186 mg/L No N/A
92842 0.00186 mg/L No N/A
92843 0.00186 mg/L No N/A
92844 0.00186 mg/L No N/A
92845 0.00186 mg/L No N/A
92846 0.00186 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

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: 15 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 4 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 City of Garden Grove (CA3010062) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Garden Grove water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, City of Garden Grove has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does City of Garden Grove serve?

City of Garden Grove serves approximately 174,226 people across 19 ZIP codes in California.

Where does City of Garden Grove get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
692
Detections
34
Latest sample
4/24/2025
Highest analyte
PFOS: 19 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 19 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFBA 14.6 ppt
PFHxS 9.6 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFPeA 8.6 ppt
PFOA 8.1 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 5.4 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
37,820
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: 174,226
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

Is water from City of Garden Grove safe to drink?
City of Garden Grove earns a A safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Garden Grove meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Garden Grove serve?
City of Garden Grove serves approximately 174,226 people with drinking water across 19 ZIP codes.
What is City of Garden Grove's water source?
City of Garden Grove draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Garden Grove's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00186 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Garden Grove's service area?
The City of Garden Grove service area has a median household income of $86,336. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Garden Grove get its water?
City of Garden Grove'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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