Water System Report CA

Stanford University

EPA ID: CA4310013 · 35,853 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Federal monitoring spanning five full years has produced zero violations at Stanford University — a clean record across every reporting cycle for a utility serving approximately 35,853 residents.

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

B · 72
Avg Safety Score
35,853
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$2.0M
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Stanford University Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$162,569
Median Household Income
50,170
Service Area Population
25%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
10th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Stanford University serves a community with a median household income of $162,569 and an estimated 50,170 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% 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

Stanford University'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
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
80th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Santa Clara 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 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
25 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 63% 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. 1 detection recorded.

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

Crescenta Valley Cwd
35,841 people
C 0 violations
C 0 violations
Lakeside Water District
35,500 people
B 2 violations
Fair Oaks Water District
36,226 people
B 0 violations
Fallbrook Pud
35,237 people
A 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $800
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $167
Total Estimated Cost $1,367

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 $1,367 (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

Stanford University (EPA ID: CA4310013) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 35,853 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (72/100)

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: 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 Stanford University (CA4310013) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stanford University water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Stanford University serve?

Stanford University serves approximately 35,853 people across 3 ZIP codes in California.

Where does Stanford University 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.

Phone
650/723-9747
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
327 Bonair Siding, Stanford, CA 94305-7270

Contact information from Stanford University Utilities Services 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
Surface water
Drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Disinfectant used
Chloramines
Treatment chemicals reported
chloraminefluoridesodium hypochlorite

Source: Stanford University Utilities Services 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 Stanford University Utilities Services Consumer Confidence Report:
The SFPUC actively protects the water resources entrusted to its care. Hetch Hetchy Watershed is surveyed annually to evaluate sanitary conditions, water quality, potential contamination sources, and watershed management activities. The local watersheds and standby water sources are surveyed once every five years.

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.
chloraminesodium hypochlorite
Fluoridation
Added at low levels per state or local public-health policy for dental health.
fluoride

Watershed exposure sources reported

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

WildlifeStockHuman activities

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Stanford University Utilities Services 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.

Samples collected
116

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
1,582
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: 35,853
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
8.6
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
1 ppm
Utility adds fluoride
Measured fluoride concentration in parts per million.
EPA secondary MCL: 2.0 ppm
Alkalinity
49 ppm CaCO₃
Capacity of the water to neutralize acids, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent.
Total dissolved solids
132 ppm
Mineral content remaining after evaporation, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other dissolved substances.
EPA secondary MCL: 500 ppm

Aesthetic measurements from Stanford University Utilities Services 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.

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.

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.

Notable events from Stanford University Utilities Services Consumer Confidence Report:
  • Turbidity spike in unfiltered Hetch Hetchy water due to a flow rate change.

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

Is water from Stanford University safe to drink?
Stanford University earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Stanford University meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Stanford University serve?
Stanford University serves approximately 35,853 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Stanford University's water source?
Stanford University draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Stanford University's service area?
The Stanford University service area has a median household income of $162,569. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Stanford University get its water?
Stanford University'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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