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Pine Valley Mutual WC

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
2,574 people
Connections
721
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Pine Valley, CA
County
San Diego
Owner
Private
Hardness
Varies by source
The ZIP code it serves

91962

The short answer

1 result is above EPA’s legal limit, and 2 more are above the health goal. The worst: Uranium, above the legal limit. 8 health-based violations since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Uranium, nitrate, arsenic, fluoride, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), haloacetic acids (HAA5) and chromium (total): California’s own results, samples taken from Feb. 13, 2020 to June 23, 2026, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Above the legal limit1

Uranium

Comes from the source

Above the legal limit

41.4ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2026

2026 average: 25 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 41.4 ppb, in 2023, above EPA’s legal limit of 30 ppb. Its highest single sample was 71.5 ppb. In 2026, the latest year on file, its 47 samples averaged 25 ppb. EPA recorded violations for uranium at this utility in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 21.4 ppb, in 2012.

What handles it

Above the health goal2

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

24ppm

Highest sample; found in 74 of 100

2026 average: 12 ppm

From 2020 to 2026, 20 samples were above EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm, the highest 24 ppm in 2025. The next sample at the same point, within 30 days, kept the average above the limit for two; 18 have no follow-up sample on file within 30 days. 10 ppm is also EPA’s health goal. In 2026, the latest year on file, its three samples averaged 12 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 27 ppm, in 2019.

What handles it

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

Arsenic

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

0.24ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2023

2023: not found

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.24 ppb, in 2020: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. Its highest single sample was 1.0 ppb. In 2023, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in any of its eight samples.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”

Below EPA’s limits4

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

1.8ppm

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2026

2026 average: 1.5 ppm

Averaged by year, the highest was 1.8 ppm, in 2024, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. Its highest single sample was 3.5 ppm. In 2026, the latest year on file, its 20 samples averaged 1.5 ppm. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 2.3 ppm, in 2013.

What handles it

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

19ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2025

2025, one sample: 18.5 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 19 ppb, in 2023, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, its one sample was 18.5 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 12 ppb, in 2017.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

4.6ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2025

Averaged by year, the highest was 4.6 ppb, in 2025, below EPA’s legal limit of 60 ppb. That was also the latest year on file. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 9.5 ppb, in 2017.

What handles it

No certification claim covers this compound yet.

Chromium (total)

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

0.083ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2023

2023: not found

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.083 ppb, in 2020, below EPA’s legal limit of 100 ppb. Its highest single sample was 0.3 ppb. In 2023, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in any of its eight samples.

What handles it

One compound tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Lead

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

    Claims: Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge), Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Nitrate, Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (III) (50 ppb influent level)

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claims: Uranium, Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction, Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Uranium, Nitrate, Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Nitrate; Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=300 ppb Reduction; Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)

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

Hard to very hard depending on the source, 155 to 398 mg/L (9.1 to 23.3 grains per gallon), across 8 sampling points, 2019 to 2025.

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

Contaminant or ruleTypePeriodMeasuredStatus
Combined UraniumThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageJuly 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 202524.4 PCI/LArchived
Combined UraniumThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageApril 1, 2025 to June 30, 202524.3 PCI/LArchived
Combined UraniumThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageJan. 1, 2025 to March 31, 202524.2 PCI/LArchived
Combined UraniumThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageOct. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 202423.9 PCI/LArchived
Combined UraniumThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageJuly 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 202422.5 PCI/LArchived
Combined UraniumThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageApril 1, 2024 to June 30, 202423.7 PCI/LArchived
Combined UraniumThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageJan. 1, 2024 to March 31, 202423.7 PCI/LArchived
Combined UraniumThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageOct. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 202323.4 PCI/LArchived
Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 4 monitoring or reporting violations not shown.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Uranium, nitrate, arsenic, fluoride, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), haloacetic acids (HAA5) and chromium (total) results here are California’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Pine Valley Mutual WC’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has 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 Feb. 13, 2020 to June 23, 2026.

Testing your own tap

Pine Valley Mutual WC’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 Pine Valley Mutual WC serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Metropolitan Solutions

    National City, CA · about 40 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (619) 831-8100

  • Environmental Laboratory Network, Inc.

    San Diego, CA · about 41 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, radioactivity

    (858) 266-1666

  • Analytical Environmental Lab, LLC

    San Diego, CA · about 43 miles

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

    (619) 871-8505

All 145 certified labs for California

Sources

PWSID CA3710039. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Towns it serves

Also in San Diego County

All California utilities

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