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Porterville Developmental Center

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
176 people
Connections
99
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Porterville, CA
County
Tulare
Owner
State government
Hardness
Varies by source
The ZIP code it serves

93257

The short answer

3 results are above the health goal. The worst: Nitrate, above the health goal. 1 health-based violation since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Nitrate, arsenic, uranium, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), fluoride, chromium (total) and haloacetic acids (HAA5): California’s own results, samples taken from Jan. 6, 2020 to June 29, 2026, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Above the health goal3

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

18ppm

Highest sample; found in 1,114 of 1,118

2026 average: 3.1 ppm

From 2020 to 2021, at least 25 samples were above EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm, the highest 18 ppm in 2020. The next sample at the same point, within 30 days, kept the average above the limit for 24; one came back under. 10 ppm is also EPA’s health goal. In 2026, the latest year on file, its 78 samples averaged 3.1 ppm. EPA recorded no violation for nitrate at this utility since 2020. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 18.5 ppm, in 2013.

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

1.1ppb

Highest yearly average, 2022 to 2025

2025 average: 0.78 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 1.1 ppb, in 2022: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. Its highest single sample was 4.4 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, its six samples averaged 0.78 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 2.5 ppb, in 2013.

What handles it

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

Uranium

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

2.1ppb

Highest yearly average, 2024

Averaged by year, the highest was 2.1 ppb, in 2024: below EPA’s legal limit of 30 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. That is the only year on file.

What handles it

Below EPA’s limits2

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

4.8ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2025

2025 average: 2.4 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 4.8 ppb, in 2020, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. Its highest single sample was 12 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, its five samples averaged 2.4 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 6.9 ppb, in 2015.

What handles it

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

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

0.15ppm

Highest yearly average, 2022 to 2025

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.15 ppm, in 2025, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. Its highest single sample was 0.23 ppm. That was also the latest year on file. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 0.14 ppm, in 2015.

What handles it

3 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
  • Chromium (total)
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • 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: Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction, Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction, Uranium

    For: Nitrate, Arsenic, Uranium

    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

Moderately hard to hard depending on the source, 110 to 147 mg/L (6.4 to 8.6 grains per gallon), across 7 sampling points, 2022 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
Revised Total Coliform RuleE. coli was confirmed in the water system.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR)Aug. 1, 2021 to Aug. 31, 2021—Resolved
Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 1 monitoring or reporting violation not shown.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Nitrate, arsenic, uranium, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), fluoride, chromium (total) and haloacetic acids (HAA5) results here are California’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Porterville Developmental Center’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 Jan. 6, 2020 to June 29, 2026.

Testing your own tap

Porterville Developmental Center’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 Porterville Developmental Center serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Sierra Dairy Laboratory

    Tulare, CA · about 31 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (559) 686-2070

  • Fruit Growers Laboratory, Inc.

    Visalia, CA · about 39 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (559) 734-9473

  • Pace Analytical Services, LLC dba BC Laboratories, Inc.

    Bakersfield, CA · about 42 miles

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

    (661) 327-4911

All 145 certified labs for California

Sources

PWSID CA5410801. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Towns it serves

Also in Tulare County

All California utilities

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