PFAS above EPA’s limits in California.
The short answer
129 utilities serving 8.9 million people, as they report it, had a location averaging above a limit, most often PFOS (114) and PFOA (84). The largest is City of Fresno, whose highest PFOS average was 22 ppt, 5.4 times the limit. The furthest above is Running Springs Water District, at 33 times the PFOS limit.
These are EPA’s survey results, not violations: the limits take effect April 26, 2029, and compliance will rest on each utility’s own monitoring. EPA has proposed changes to the rule; as of Oct. 13, 2026, none is final.
Utilities above a limit
Largest first. Each one’s highest location average is for the limit it is furthest above, with the single highest sample of the same PFAS; its report has every result.
| Utility | Based in | Serves | Above | Highest location average | Highest single sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Fresno | Fresno | 545,970 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 22 ppt5.4 times the limit | 30 ppt |
| City of Sacramento Main | Sacramento | 527,979 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 39 ppt9.7 times the limit | 41 ppt |
| City of Anaheim | Anaheim | 350,254 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 18 ppt4.5 times the limit | 29 ppt |
| City of Santa Ana | Santa Ana | 316,184 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 14 ppt3.4 times the limit | 14 ppt |
| Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency | Newhall | 292,014 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 14 ppt3.5 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| Cws - Bakersfield | San Jose | 268,129 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 14 ppt3.4 times the limit | 14 ppt |
| City of Modesto | Modesto | 218,915 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 19 ppt4.6 times the limit | 26 ppt |
| City of Huntington Beach | Huntington Beach | 201,000 | PFOS | PFOS 5.5 ppt1.4 times the limit | 6.1 ppt |
| City of Stockton | Stockton | 192,702 | PFOS | PFOS 14 ppt3.5 times the limit | 28 ppt |
| Glendale - City, Water Dept. | Glendale | 192,212 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 15 ppt3.8 times the limit | 16 ppt |
| SCWA - Laguna/Vineyard | Sacramento | 188,417 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 15 ppt3.9 times the limit | 24 ppt |
| Ontario Municipal Utilities Company | Ontario | 185,010 | PFOA | PFOA 15 ppt3.8 times the limit | 30 ppt |
| Sweetwater Authority | Chula Vista | 184,915 | PFOA | PFOA 9.2 ppt2.3 times the limit | 11 ppt |
| City of Garden Grove | Garden Grove | 174,226 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 19 ppt4.7 times the limit | 19 ppt |
| City of Bakersfield | Bakersfield | 171,108 | PFOS | PFOS 8.0 ppttwice the limit | 8.4 ppt |
| Cws - Visalia | San Jose | 153,522 | PFOS | PFOS 5.7 ppt1.4 times the limit | 6.9 ppt |
| Pomona - City, Water Dept. | Pomona | 151,713 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 15 ppt3.6 times the limit | 18 ppt |
| Rancho California Water District | Temecula | 146,147 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 14 ppt3.4 times the limit | 16 ppt |
| California Water Service Co. - Ela | San Jose | 142,140 | PFOS | PFOS 8.3 ppt2.1 times the limit | 8.6 ppt |
| City of Fullerton | Fullerton | 140,054 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3 times the limit | 13 ppt |
| City of Clovis | Clovis | 133,118 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 36 ppt9 times the limit | 41 ppt |
| Cal Am Water Company - Monterey | Pacific Grove | 128,928 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 7.0 ppt1.7 times the limit | 8.1 ppt |
| City of Orange | Orange | 120,770 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 17 ppt4.2 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| Golden State WC - West Orange County | Anaheim | 114,693 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 15 ppt3.8 times the limit | 16 ppt |
| Downey - City, Water Dept. | Downey | 110,556 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 38 ppt9.5 times the limit | 44 ppt |
| Cal - Water Service Co. - Chico | San Jose | 110,473 | PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 17 ppt4.2 times the limit | 23 ppt |
| East Valley Water District | Highland | 108,600 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3 times the limit | 12 ppt |
| Hesperia WD | Hesperia | 101,836 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 5.5 ppt1.4 times the limit | 11 ppt |
| City of Vacaville | Vacaville | 99,650 | PFOS | PFOS 9.9 ppt2.5 times the limit | 10 ppt |
| City of Merced | Merced | 96,073 | PFOS | PFOS 6.8 ppt1.7 times the limit | 8.9 ppt |
| City of Westminster | Westminster | 93,591 | PFOS | PFOS 4.8 ppt1.2 times the limit | 5.3 ppt |
| Compton - City, Water Dept. | Compton | 90,986 | PFOS | PFOS 16 ppt3.9 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| City of Redding | Redding | 90,254 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 14 ppt3.5 times the limit | 16 ppt |
| South Gate - City, Water Dept. | South Gate | 88,544 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 24 ppt6 times the limit | 26 ppt |
| City of Manteca | Manteca | 84,928 | PFOA, PFHxS | PFHxS 19 ppt1.9 times the limit | 19 ppt |
| City of Buena Park | Buena Park | 82,667 | PFOS | PFOS 6.1 ppt1.5 times the limit | 6.8 ppt |
| Redlands City MUD - Water Div | Redlands | 78,025 | PFOS | PFOS 5.4 ppt1.4 times the limit | 5.8 ppt |
| City of Pleasanton | Pleasanton | 76,689 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 24 ppt6 times the limit | 26 ppt |
| Liberty Utilities - Bellflower - Norwalk | Downey | 72,472 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 55 ppt14 times the limit | 59 ppt |
| City of Lodi | Lodi | 67,093 | PFOS | PFOS 5.1 ppt1.3 times the limit | 5.6 ppt |
| Lynwood - City, Water Dept. | Lynwood | 66,967 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 22 ppt5.5 times the limit | 23 ppt |
| Suburban Water Systems - Whittier | Covina | 66,565 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 13 ppt3.1 times the limit | 13 ppt |
| Lakewood - City, Water Dept. | Lakewood | 66,356 | PFOS | PFOS 18 ppt4.4 times the limit | 19 ppt |
| City of Watsonville | Watsonville | 65,231 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 5.8 ppt1.4 times the limit | 6.5 ppt |
| City of Porterville | Porterville | 63,487 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 21 ppt5.3 times the limit | 22 ppt |
| California Water Service - Livermore | San Jose | 60,414 | PFOS | PFOS 10 ppt2.6 times the limit | 12 ppt |
| City of Gilroy | Gilroy | 59,426 | PFOA | PFOA 5.8 ppt1.4 times the limit | 8.0 ppt |
| Suburban Water Systems - la Mirada | Covina | 57,240 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3.1 times the limit | 16 ppt |
| Gswc - San Dimas | San Dimas | 56,564 | PFOS | PFOS 4.5 ppt1.1 times the limit | 4.6 ppt |
| Monte Vista WD | Montclair | 56,390 | PFOS | PFOS 5.5 ppt1.4 times the limit | 5.6 ppt |
| Gswc - Bell, Bell Gardens | Anaheim | 55,050 | PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt2.9 times the limit | 15 ppt |
| Cal Am - Suburban Rosemont | Sacramento | 54,893 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3 times the limit | 13 ppt |
| City of Ceres | Ceres | 54,513 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 19 ppt4.6 times the limit | 24 ppt |
| City of Arcadia | Arcadia | 54,236 | PFOS | PFOS 9.4 ppt2.4 times the limit | 10 ppt |
| Golden State WC - Placentia/Yorba Linda | Anaheim | 50,804 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 6.1 ppt1.5 times the limit | 6.5 ppt |
| Cal Am - Parkway | Sacramento | 50,646 | PFOS | PFOS 13 ppt3.1 times the limit | 15 ppt |
| Gswc - Artesia | Anaheim | 50,415 | PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3 times the limit | 13 ppt |
| Whittier - City, Water Dept. | Whittier | 49,954 | PFOS | PFOS 9.5 ppt2.4 times the limit | 19 ppt |
| City of Colton | Colton | 46,525 | PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3 times the limit | 18 ppt |
| Bellflower - Somerset MWC | Bellflower | 46,300 | PFOS | PFOS 16 ppt4 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| City of Adelanto | Adelanto | 39,930 | PFOS | PFOS 4.4 ppt1.1 times the limit | 4.5 ppt |
| Gswc - Claremont | San Dimas | 39,776 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 7.3 ppt1.8 times the limit | 13 ppt |
| Pico Rivera - City, Water Dept. | Pico Rivera | 39,451 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 29 ppt7.1 times the limit | 30 ppt |
| City of Lathrop | Lathrop | 38,596 | PFOS | PFOS 15 ppt3.8 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| Monrovia - City, Water Dept. | Monrovia | 37,931 | PFOS | PFOS 5.1 ppt1.3 times the limit | 6.1 ppt |
| Lakeside WD | Lakeside | 35,500 | PFOS | PFOS 4.8 ppt1.2 times the limit | 4.8 ppt |
| Atascadero Mutual Water Co | Atascadero | 33,307 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 22 ppt5.4 times the limit | 22 ppt |
| Camrosa Water District | Camarillo | 32,700 | PFOS | PFOS 8.5 ppt2.1 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| City of Paso Robles Water Division | Paso Robles | 31,176 | PFOA | PFOA 5.5 ppt1.4 times the limit | 6.3 ppt |
| South Tahoe PUD - Main | South Lake Tahoe | 30,089 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 5.6 ppt1.4 times the limit | 6.1 ppt |
| City of Atwater | Atwater | 29,479 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 23 ppt5.6 times the limit | 45 ppt |
| Crescenta Valley CWD | La Crescenta | 28,162 | PFOA | PFOA 4.6 ppt1.1 times the limit | 5.1 ppt |
| Cws - North Garden | San Jose | 27,634 | PFOS | PFOS 4.5 ppt1.1 times the limit | 4.6 ppt |
| Gswc - South Arcadia | San Dimas | 27,430 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 20 ppt5 times the limit | 22 ppt |
| Montebello Land & Water Co. | Montebello | 26,554 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 47 ppt12 times the limit | 53 ppt |
| City of Sanger | Sanger | 26,357 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 6.3 ppt1.6 times the limit | 6.7 ppt |
| Sunnyslope County Water Dist | Hollister | 25,486 | PFOA | PFOA 5.2 ppt1.3 times the limit | 5.8 ppt |
| City of Norco | Norco | 25,068 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 22 ppt5.6 times the limit | 31 ppt |
| Orchard Dale Water District | Whittier | 25,000 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 20 ppt5 times the limit | 23 ppt |
| Liberty Utilities - Lynwood | Downey | 24,649 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 17 ppt4.3 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| Valley of the Moon Water District | El Verano | 23,140 | PFOA | PFOA 4.6 ppt1.1 times the limit | 5.2 ppt |
| Pico WD | Pico Rivera | 22,051 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 26 ppt6.4 times the limit | 28 ppt |
| Norwalk - City, Water Dept. | Norwalk | 20,283 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 25 ppt6.3 times the limit | 26 ppt |
| Santa Fe Springs - City, Water Dept. | Santa Fe Springs | 19,219 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 11 ppt2.6 times the limit | 14 ppt |
| Riverside Highland Water Company | Grand Terrace | 19,053 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 17 ppt4.1 times the limit | 18 ppt |
| City of Arroyo Grande Utilities Division | Arroyo Grande | 17,963 | PFOS | PFOS 4.2 ppt1.04 times the limit | 6.8 ppt |
| Western MWD - Murrieta Division | Riverside | 17,837 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 5.1 ppt1.3 times the limit | 5.5 ppt |
| Pinedale County Water District | Pinedale | 16,736 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 12 ppt2.9 times the limit | 12 ppt |
| City of Ukiah | Ukiah | 16,067 | PFOS | PFOS 4.1 ppt1.03 times the limit | 7.4 ppt |
| City of Ripon | Ripon | 15,753 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3 times the limit | 12 ppt |
| Huntington Park - City, Water Dept. | Huntington Park | 15,437 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 22 ppt5.5 times the limit | 23 ppt |
| South Montebello Irrigation Dist. | Montebello | 15,021 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 18 ppt4.5 times the limit | 20 ppt |
| Pala North | Pala | 14,280 | PFOA | PFOA 5.7 ppt1.4 times the limit | 6.1 ppt |
| Tract 180 Mutual Water Co. | Cudahy | 14,000 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 23 ppt5.8 times the limit | 24 ppt |
| Big Bear City CSD | Big Bear City | 12,738 | PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | Hazard Index 2.752.8 times the limit | — |
| City of Lindsay | Lindsay | 12,659 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt2.9 times the limit | 12 ppt |
| Crestline Village CWD - Division 10 | Crestline | 11,650 | PFHxS, Hazard Index | Hazard Index 1.771.8 times the limit | — |
| City of Bell Gardens | Bell Gardens | 11,413 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 22 ppt5.5 times the limit | 23 ppt |
| City of Sonoma | Sonoma | 10,619 | PFOA | PFOA 5.1 ppt1.3 times the limit | 6.2 ppt |
| SCWA - Arden Park Vista | Sacramento | 10,068 | PFOS | PFOS 7.2 ppt1.8 times the limit | 8.3 ppt |
| Golden Hills CSD | Tehachapi | 9,857 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 14 ppt3.6 times the limit | 19 ppt |
| Tract 349 Mutual Water Co. | Cudahy | 8,700 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 35 ppt8.7 times the limit | 37 ppt |
| Florin County Water District | Sacramento | 7,831 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 11 ppt2.6 times the limit | 12 ppt |
| City of Gridley | Gridley | 7,269 | PFOS, Hazard Index | PFOS 9.8 ppt2.4 times the limit | 11 ppt |
| Los Osos Community Services District | Los Osos | 7,086 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 12 ppt2.9 times the limit | 15 ppt |
| Lake Arrowhead CSD | Lake Arrowhead | 7,038 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 12 ppt3 times the limit | 14 ppt |
| Rincon Northern | Valley Center | 7,003 | PFOS | PFOS 4.5 ppt1.1 times the limit | 8.9 ppt |
| Peter Pitchess Honor Rancho Detn. Ctr | Castaic | 7,000 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 6.0 ppt1.5 times the limit | 6.5 ppt |
| Nuevo Water Company | Nuevo | 6,733 | PFOA | PFOA 5.8 ppt1.4 times the limit | 7.0 ppt |
| Rubio Canon Land & Water Association | Altadena | 6,646 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 17 ppt4.3 times the limit | 19 ppt |
| Helendale Community Service District | Helendale | 6,347 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 21 ppt5.1 times the limit | 23 ppt |
| Maywood Mutual Water Co. #3 | Maywood | 6,059 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 25 ppt6.2 times the limit | 26 ppt |
| Bellflower Municipal Water System | Rosemead | 6,032 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 31 ppt7.6 times the limit | 33 ppt |
| Cal Am - Meadowbrook | Sacramento | 5,723 | PFOS | PFOS 7.8 ppt1.9 times the limit | 8.3 ppt |
| La Habra Heights CWD | La Habra Heights | 5,682 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 23 ppt5.7 times the limit | 23 ppt |
| Pleasant Valley Mutual Water Co | Camarillo | 5,306 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 8.3 ppt2.1 times the limit | 10 ppt |
| Yosemite Spring Park Util Co | Coarsegold | 5,300 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 6.9 ppt1.7 times the limit | 7.9 ppt |
| Running Springs Water District | Running Springs | 5,268 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 131 ppt33 times the limit | 237 ppt |
| Suburban Water Systems - Sativa | Covina | 4,372 | PFOS | PFOS 4.7 ppt1.2 times the limit | 9.4 ppt |
| Cal Am - Arden | Sacramento | 4,178 | PFOA | PFOA 5.3 ppt1.3 times the limit | 6.0 ppt |
| Planada CSD | Planada | 4,164 | PFOS | PFOS 15 ppt3.6 times the limit | 15 ppt |
| City of Wheatland | Wheatland | 4,124 | PFOS | PFOS 9.2 ppt2.3 times the limit | 11 ppt |
| Weaverville C.S.D. | Weaverville | 3,975 | PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3.1 times the limit | 19 ppt |
| Maywood Mutual Water Co. #1 | Huntington Park | 3,851 | PFOS | PFOS 11 ppt2.7 times the limit | 11 ppt |
| San Joaquin County - Mokelumne Acres | Stockton | 3,802 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 13 ppt3.2 times the limit | 14 ppt |
| Commerce - City, Water Dept. | Montebello | 3,598 | PFOA | PFOA 4.7 ppt1.2 times the limit | 9.3 ppt |
| California State University Fresno | Fresno | 1,500 | PFOA | PFOA 6.0 ppt1.5 times the limit | 12 ppt |
| Atascadero State Hospital | Atascadero | 1,100 | PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 19 ppt4.7 times the limit | 33 ppt |
| California State Fair | Sacramento | 80 | PFOS | PFOS 14 ppt3.5 times the limit | 14 ppt |
34 more utilities in California had a single sample above a limit but no location average above, so they are not listed; each report shows the sample.
Results: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, file of Oct. 15, 2026, samples from Jan. 3, 2023 to June 17, 2026, averaged by sampling location as EPA’s final UCMR 5 data summary does. Every state, and the full data as a CSV; how this list is made. People served is what each utility reports.
Where to go next
- City of Fresno’s reportEvery PFAS result with its dates, and the certification claim that handles each.Open the report
- Every stateThe national list, the largest utilities above a limit, and the data to download.PFAS above EPA’s limits
- Filters certified for PFASRanked by certification and what they cost over five years.Best water filters for PFAS