01The verdict: is Inverness water safe?
Inverness's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (87.6/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,445 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
2 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 2.7 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓1 violation in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Inverness's drinking water received a grade of A- (87.6 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,445 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 2.7 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 31 violations on record, including 27 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
Inverness ranks #205 out of 690 cities in California for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Inverness may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Inverness's water
Every contaminant flagged in Inverness, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 2.7 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in California
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in California
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Inverness's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 31 violations on record, including 27 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 317 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 2.7 ppb (2023) — 18% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Inverness's water comes from
Inverness's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
1,445 people
Residents served across Inverness's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,445 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| INVERNESS PUBLIC UTILITY DIST | CA2110001 | 1,445 | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Inverness
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Inverness's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Inverness's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
10 federal disaster declarations on record for Marin County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Inverness compares
Scores for nearby California cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = California average (57/100)
Inverness scores 87.6/100 — above the California average of 57/100. It outscores 8 of 10 nearby cities. Full California rankings →
42.8 / 100FSan Jose, CA
28 / 100BOakland, CA
77.9 / 100FSan Diego, CA
39.7 / 100FSacramento, CA
31.2 / 100ABurlingame, CA
89.2 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Inverness's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Inverness's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Inverness alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Inverness, CA tap water safe to drink?
Inverness's water quality earned a grade of A- (87.6/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #205 out of 690 cities tested in California.
What contaminants are in Inverness's water?
Lead was measured at 2.7 ppb (90th percentile). 31 violations are on record.
How is Inverness's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Inverness?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Inverness's water come from?
Inverness's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,445 residents.
What health violations has Inverness's water system had?
Inverness has 27 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 2 violations remain unresolved.
How does Inverness's water compare to other cities?
Inverness ranks #205 out of 690 cities in California (better than 70% of state cities) and #3930 out of 15382 cities nationally (75th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Inverness's small water system affect quality?
Inverness's system serves approximately 1,445 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 31 violations on record.