City of San Diego,
EPA ID: CA3710020 · 1,385,379 people served · 102 ZIP codes
City of San Diego,'s current EPA file includes 6 unresolved violations — every outstanding finding is documented in federal records for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 1,385,379 residents across its service territory.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 243 (2022) to 83 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of San Diego, Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The City of San Diego, serves a community with a median household income of $105,286 and an estimated 1,818,759 residents across its service area. Approximately 66% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
City of San Diego,'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.
About 1% of homes in San Diego County, California rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How City of San Diego, compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 8 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Coliform at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 34 detections recorded. 6 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 3 exceed state limits.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in California
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
SAN DIEGO, CITY OF (EPA ID: CA3710020) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 1,385,379 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 102 ZIP codes across 15 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (61/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Unresolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| March 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Unknown | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 8 | Yes |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92101 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92102 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92103 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92104 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92105 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92106 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92107 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92108 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92109 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92110 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92111 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92112 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92113 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92114 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92115 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92116 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92117 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92119 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92120 | 0.0107 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 92121 | 0.0107 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 FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 54 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 48 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.
This system serves 102 ZIP codes:
91902 · 91942 · 91945 · 91950 · 91951 91977 · 92014 · 92025 · 92037 · 92038 92039 · 92064 · 92067 · 92071 · 92075 92091 · 92092 · 92093 · 92101 · 92102 92103 · 92104 · 92105 · 92106 · 92107 92108 · 92109 · 92110 · 92111 · 92112 92113 · 92114 · 92115 · 92116 · 92117 92118 · 92119 · 92120 · 92121 · 92122 92123 · 92124 · 92126 · 92127 · 92128 92129 · 92130 · 92131 · 92132 · 92133 92134 · 92135 · 92136 · 92137 · 92138 92139 · 92140 · 92142 · 92145 · 92147 92149 · 92150 · 92152 · 92153 · 92154 92155 · 92158 · 92159 · 92160 · 92161 92162 · 92163 · 92164 · 92165 · 92166 92167 · 92168 · 92169 · 92170 · 92171 92172 · 92173 · 92174 · 92175 · 92176 92177 · 92178 · 92179 · 92182 · 92184 92186 · 92187 · 92190 · 92191 · 92192 92193 · 92194 · 92195 · 92196 · 92197 92198 · 92199
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of San Diego, (CA3710020) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of San Diego, water safe to drink?
City of San Diego, has recorded 4 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 City of San Diego, serve?
City of San Diego, serves approximately 1,385,379 people across 102 ZIP codes in California.
Where does City of San Diego, get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
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.
Contact information from City of San Diego 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: City of San Diego Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
The most recent watershed sanitary survey was completed in 2020. It identified several potential sources of contamination, including wildfire-related runoff, erosion, geological fault activity, and naturally occurring metals. Other potential vulnerabilities include impacts from wildlife and livestock, aging or failing septic systems, recreational activities, urban stormwater runoff, and nearby transportation infrastructure.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
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.
Watershed exposure sources reported
Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of San Diego 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: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
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 →
The latest Water Service Line Inventory found no lead water service lines in the City's entire system.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
City of San Diego
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
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.
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.
Aesthetic measurements from City of San Diego 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 City of San Diego
Your utility reported water hardness of 155 ppm CaCO₃ (9.1 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.
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.
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.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
monitoring · cross-connection control programDate not published
The State Water Board has determined that the City has failed to implement a cross-connection control program in compliance with CCR, Title 17, Sections 7584 (c), and 7604. Specifically, there are 11,543 identified services needing backflow protection devices that have not been installed.
Violations record from City of San Diego Consumer Confidence Report.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- The latest Water Service Line Inventory found no lead water service lines in the City's entire system.
- Work continues to progress on Pure Water San Diego, the City of San Diego's phased, multi-year program that will provide San Diego with a reliable, locally controlled water supply.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
City of San Diego, (EPA ID: CA3710020) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.