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Department of Water and Power

What EPA’s and California’s records show in this utility’s water: nitrate, arsenic and other regulated chemicals; lead and copper; and violations since 2016, with the certification that handles each result.

Serves
239 people
Connections
133
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Big Bear Lake, CA
County
San Bernardino
Owner
Local government
Hardness
Varies by source
The ZIP code it serves

92314

The short answer

2 results are above the health goal. The worst: Nitrate, above the health goal. No health-based violations on file since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Copper: EPA’s file records a utility’s copper only when it exceeds the action level. The last here was 1.7 ppm, for the period ending Dec. 31, 2016. None since is on file, so it is not counted as a current finding.

Nitrate, fluoride, arsenic, chromium (total) and total trihalomethanes (TTHM): California’s own results, samples taken from Nov. 10, 2020 to July 14, 2026, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Uranium: EPA’s compliance monitoring file, samples taken from Nov. 21, 2018 to Nov. 21, 2018. Newer results are in the utility’s annual water quality report.

Above the health goal2

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

14ppm

Highest sample; found in 14 of 21

2026 average: 12.5 ppm

From 2024 to 2026, four samples were above EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm, the highest 14 ppm in 2026. Four have no follow-up sample on file within 30 days. 10 ppm is also EPA’s health goal. That was also the latest year on file, and its two samples averaged 12.5 ppm, above the limit. EPA recorded no violation for nitrate at this utility since 2020. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 11 ppm, in 2019.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”

Uranium

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

8.1ppb

Highest yearly average, 2018

Averaged by year, the highest was 8.1 ppb, in 2018: below EPA’s legal limit of 30 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. Its highest single sample was 9.5 ppb. That is the only year on file.

What handles it

Below EPA’s limits1

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

1.9ppm

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2026

2026, one sample: 1.2 ppm

Averaged by year, the highest was 1.9 ppm, in 2022, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. In 2026, the latest year on file, its one sample was 1.2 ppm. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 1.1 ppm, in 2014.

What handles it

4 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Arsenic
  • Chromium (total)
  • Lead
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

What handles it

A certification covers specific claims, not a whole standard. Look for these claims on the certifier’s listing, not the box. Wording varies a little: NSF writes “Lead Reduction,” WQA just “Lead.”

  • NSF/ANSI 53

    Claim: Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)

    For: Nitrate

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claims: Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction, Uranium

    For: Nitrate, Uranium

    Other certifiers’ wording: Nitrate

At the tap, or for the whole house?

These come with the water itself, so a whole-house system certified for the same claims treats every tap and shower. A filter at the tap treats drinking water for much less. How whole-house systems compare.

Filters with those claims on a certifier’s listing

Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money

Compare five-year costs

The best reverse osmosis systems, ranked

Hardness

Soft to very hard depending on the source, 57 to 190 mg/L (3.3 to 11.1 grains per gallon), across 3 sampling points, 2021 to 2023.

Hardness is calcium and magnesium. EPA sets no limit for it: it shows up as scale on fixtures and in water heaters, and as soap that won’t lather. USGS calls water above 60 mg/L moderately hard, above 120 hard and above 180 very hard.

Softeners compared, salt includedSoftener or salt-free conditioner?California water hardness, utility by utility

Violations since 2016

No health-based violations on file with EPA since 2016. There are 6 monitoring or reporting violations: a sample missed, late or not reported.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Nitrate, fluoride, arsenic, chromium (total) and total trihalomethanes (TTHM) results here are California’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Uranium comes from EPA’s file alone, which ends in 2019. Department of Water and Power’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has newer results for those and the contaminants this page does not show.

  • Your own plumbing. Lead results are the 90th percentile across homes the utility samples. Your home’s service line, solder and fixtures decide yours. A certified lab test is the only way to know.

  • What it means for your health. This page reports what the records show and EPA’s limits and goals; it is not medical advice. If you are worried about a health effect, talk to a doctor or your local health department.

  • Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q3; UCMR 5 didn’t sample this utility; California’s results run from Nov. 10, 2020 to July 14, 2026; EPA’s compliance samples are from Nov. 21, 2018 to Nov. 21, 2018.

Testing your own tap

Department of Water and Power’s results are for the water it sends out. What your own service line, solder and fixtures add shows up only in a test of your tap, by a lab California certifies.

The 3 labs California certifies closest to the area Department of Water and Power serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • BSK Associates - San Bernardino Analytical Laboratory

    San Bernardino, CA · about 30 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (559) 497-2888

  • Geo-Monitor, Inc

    Hesperia, CA · about 30 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (760) 244-3481

  • Clinical Laboratory of San Bernardino, Inc.

    Grand Terrace, CA · about 34 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, organic chemicals, disinfection byproducts, radioactivity

    (909) 825-7693

All 145 certified labs for California

Sources

PWSID CA3600283. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Towns it serves

Also in San Bernardino County

All California utilities

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