Is Big Bear City, CA tap water safe?
The short answer
None of the 3 utilities serving Big Bear City has a result above a legal limit or action level, or a health-based violation since 2016, in EPA’s and California’s records.
Big Bear City CSD, which serves the most people here, has 3 results above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 2 results above the health goal. The worst: PFHxS at 36 ppt, above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029.
The water from Big Bear City CSD is moderately hard to very hard depending on the source, 73 to 490 mg/L (4.3 to 28.7 grains per gallon). How California’s water compares.
A town can be served by more than one utility, and some homes are on private wells. The name on your water bill tells you which is yours, and your ZIP code narrows it down. They are listed by how many people each serves in Big Bear City’s ZIP codes, from EPA’s estimates.
- Open report
Big Bear City CSD
California · serves 12,738 people · about 8,400 in Big Bear City
3 results above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 2 results above the health goal. The worst: PFHxS at 36 ppt, above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029. Hardness: moderately hard to very hard depending on the source, 73 to 490 mg/L (4.3 to 28.7 grains per gallon).
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Big Bear Lake Dwp - Big Bear System
California · serves 26,164 people · about 1,600 in Big Bear City
2 results above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 2 results above the health goal. The worst: PFOS at 6.1 ppt, above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029. Hardness: moderately hard to very hard depending on the source, 81 to 440 mg/L (4.7 to 25.7 grains per gallon).
No health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Department of Water and Power
California · serves 239 people · about 150 in Big Bear City
2 results above the health goal. The worst: Nitrate at 14 ppm, above the health goal. Hardness: soft to very hard depending on the source, 57 to 190 mg/L (3.3 to 11.1 grains per gallon).
No health-based violations since 2016
What handles it
Each of these is certified, on a certifier’s listing, for a result above a line in Big Bear City CSD’s water, which serves the most people here. Another utility’s report names what handles its own results.
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PUR PLUS 11-Cup Pitcher (PPT111W)
Pitcher
- NSF listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA
Culligan 10-Cup Pitcher with ZeroWater Technology (ZEROP10)
Pitcher
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA
Culligan MaxClear Scout Gravity Water Filter (MCS701P)
Dispenser
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA
Water testing near Big Bear City
The 3 labs California certifies closest to Big Bear City, 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 29 miles
Certified for bacteria
Geo-Monitor, Inc
Hesperia, CA · about 30 miles
Certified for bacteria
Clinical Laboratory of San Bernardino, Inc.
Grand Terrace, CA · about 33 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, organic chemicals, disinfection byproducts, radioactivity
Which ZIP codes are in Big Bear City: Census 2020 relationship files. Which utilities serve them, and how many people: EPA SDWIS and EPA’s service area map. Each utility’s results: EPA UCMR 5, EPA SDWIS, and EPA’s and the state’s compliance monitoring, as its report lists them. How they are measured: methodology. Certified labs: California State Water Resources Control Board, ELAP accredited laboratories and their fields of accreditation; distances from the Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation area gazetteer.
Near Big Bear City
Other towns in San Bernardino County with a page of their own.
What to do next
- Read Big Bear City CSD’s full reportEvery result with its dates, the violations, and the certification claim that handles each finding.Open the report
- Filters for PFHxSRanked by certification and what they cost over five years.The best water filters for PFAS, ranked
- On a private well?No utility tests a well. A certified lab test is the first step.How to test well water