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Lead Contamination

Lead in California Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

690
Cities Tested
7
Exceeds Limit
1%
% Exceeds Limit
1.4 ppb
State Avg
▼ 1% vs national
vs National
620
Health Violations
Analysis

Lead in California: what the data shows

California has 690 cities with lead monitoring data, with very few cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 1.4 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. 7 cities exceed the 15 ppb action level. High lead levels in tap water typically indicate aging infrastructure — lead service lines, lead solder in older plumbing, or lead-containing brass fixtures. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

California
1%
7 of 690 cities
← ▼ 1% below national rate (better)
National avg
2%
352 of 15325 cities
City Map

Lead data across California

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in California

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

  1. 1 B- Hayfork 44.1 ppb Yes 2K
  2. 2 C- La Honda 25.6 ppb Yes 1K
  3. 3 C+ Green Valley Lake 24.9 ppb Yes 3K
  4. 4 C- Lakeport 24.0 ppb Yes 18K
  5. 5 B 29 Palms 20.0 ppb Yes 15K
  6. 6 B Santa Clara 18.2 ppb Yes 131K
  7. 7 B- Arnold 16.0 ppb Yes 6K
  8. 8 B+ Hume 15.0 ppb 2K
  9. 9 B+ Olympic Valley 14.4 ppb 1K
  10. 10 B- Pinecrest 12.1 ppb 1K
All Cities

All California cities ranked by lead level

# City Level Level Exceeds? Violations Grade
1 Hayfork 44.1 ppb
Yes 1
B-
2 La Honda 25.6 ppb
Yes 9
C-
3 Green Valley Lake 24.9 ppb
Yes 2
C+
4 Lakeport 24.0 ppb
Yes 14
C-
5 29 Palms 20.0 ppb
Yes 3
B
6 Santa Clara 18.2 ppb
Yes 5
B
7 Arnold 16.0 ppb
Yes 2
B-
8 Hume 15.0 ppb
No 3
B+
9 Olympic Valley 14.4 ppb
No 1
B+
10 Pinecrest 12.1 ppb
No 3
B-
11 Modesto 12.0 ppb
No 76
D
12 Carmel 11.5 ppb
No 49
C-
13 Upland 11.0 ppb
No 4
B+
14 Joshua Tree 11.0 ppb
No 3
A-
15 Pine Mountain Club 11.0 ppb
No 9
A-
16 Paicines 10.7 ppb
No 9
B-
17 Moffett Field 10.4 ppb
No 1
A
18 Santa Maria 10.0 ppb
No 36
F
19 Calistoga 10.0 ppb
No 15
C+
20 Seaside 10.0 ppb
No 1
A-
21 Skyforest 10.0 ppb
No 0
A-
22 Anza 10.0 ppb
No 53
F
23 Corcoran 9.3 ppb
No 3
A
24 Twin Peaks 9.3 ppb
No 3
B
25 Bear River - Tish Non Village 9.3 ppb
No 0
A-
26 Lower Lake 8.0 ppb
No 3
B+
27 Point Reyes Station 8.0 ppb
No 0
A-
28 Lee Vining 8.0 ppb
No 1
A-
29 Beaumont 7.8 ppb
No 2
A-
30 Menlo Park 7.4 ppb
No 2
A-
31 Biggs 6.9 ppb
No 3
B+
32 Campo 6.9 ppb
No 74
D
33 Colusa 6.6 ppb
No 6
C-
34 Groveland 6.6 ppb
No 4
B-
35 Running Springs 6.1 ppb
No 3
B
36 Pacific Grove 6.0 ppb
No 15
B-
37 Fountain Valley 6.0 ppb
No 0
A
38 Los Altos Hills 6.0 ppb
No 4
A-
39 Friant 6.0 ppb
No 19
A-
40 Laguna Beach 5.9 ppb
No 2
B
41 Boulder Creek 5.9 ppb
No 119
F
42 Cobb 5.8 ppb
No 3
C+
43 Grimes 5.8 ppb
No 61
D
44 San Dimas 5.6 ppb
No 6
B-
45 Santa Fe Springs 5.6 ppb
No 1
B+
46 San Jose 5.5 ppb
No 142
F
47 Folsom 5.4 ppb
No 1
A-
48 Manhattan Beach 5.4 ppb
No 1
A-
49 San Jacinto 5.3 ppb
No 9
B
50 Altoona 5.3 ppb
No 3
B
51 Indio 5.0 ppb
No 12
F
52 Porterville 5.0 ppb
No 74
F
53 Valley Center 5.0 ppb
No 15
F
54 Windsor 5.0 ppb
No 2
A+
55 Brooks 5.0 ppb
No 2
B+
56 Shingle Springs 5.0 ppb
No 0
B+
57 Santa Ysabel 5.0 ppb
No 17
D
58 Pauma Valley 5.0 ppb
No 88
F
59 Thermal 5.0 ppb
No 127
D
60 Tule River Reservation 5.0 ppb
No 34
D
61 Arrowbear Lake 5.0 ppb
No 1
A
62 Upper Lake 5.0 ppb
No 4
B
63 Point Arena 5.0 ppb
No 24
D
64 Redwood Valley 5.0 ppb
No 2
C
65 Dublin 4.8 ppb
No 0
A
66 Westminster 4.7 ppb
No 2
A-
67 Phillipsville 4.4 ppb
No 19
B-
68 Mineral 4.2 ppb
No 2
A-
69 La Palma 4.1 ppb
No 0
A-
70 Alpine Meadows 4.0 ppb
No 1
A
71 Blairsden 4.0 ppb
No 44
B
72 Boulder 4.0 ppb
No 1
B+
73 Georgetown 4.0 ppb
No 4
B+
74 Valley Springs 3.9 ppb
No 2
A
75 Trabuco Canyon 3.9 ppb
No 2
A-
76 Kernville 3.8 ppb
No 38
B-
77 Occidental 3.8 ppb
No 3
A
78 Ramona 3.7 ppb
No 36
C
79 Carmel Valley 3.7 ppb
No 45
C+
80 Arcata 3.6 ppb
No 3
A
81 Mountain Center 3.6 ppb
No 1
B+
82 Rancho Cordova 3.5 ppb
No 115
F
83 Sebastopol 3.4 ppb
No 18
B-
84 Santa Rosa Rancheria 3.4 ppb
No 25
D
85 Crescent City 3.4 ppb
No 14
C
86 Escondido 3.3 ppb
No 10
B
87 Truckee 3.3 ppb
No 7
A-
88 Felton 3.3 ppb
No 21
C
89 Concord 3.2 ppb
No 19
B-
90 Whitethorn 3.2 ppb
No 38
B+
91 Fort Jones 3.1 ppb
No 3
A
92 El Cajon 3.0 ppb
No 24
B+
93 Three Rivers 3.0 ppb
No 177
F
94 Brisbane 3.0 ppb
No 5
A-
95 Westwood 2.9 ppb
No 13
A
96 Redlands 2.9 ppb
No 2
B
97 Pinedale 2.9 ppb
No 7
A-
98 Signal Hill 2.9 ppb
No 6
B
99 Nuevo 2.9 ppb
No 6
B+
100 Barona North Reservation 2.9 ppb
No 0
A-
101 Lakehead 2.9 ppb
No 4
B
102 Perris 2.8 ppb
No 0
A
103 Victorville 2.8 ppb
No 1
B+
104 Fairfield 2.8 ppb
No 7
B-
105 San Luis Obispo 2.8 ppb
No 27
F
106 Kirkwood 2.8 ppb
No 0
A
107 Angelus Oaks 2.8 ppb
No 7
B-
108 Mount Baldy 2.8 ppb
No 0
A
109 Foresthill 2.8 ppb
No 3
B+
110 Oakland 2.7 ppb
No 13
B
111 East Palo Alto 2.7 ppb
No 8
A
112 June Lake 2.7 ppb
No 14
B
113 Ione 2.7 ppb
No 13
A-
114 Inverness 2.7 ppb
No 27
A-
115 Junction City 2.7 ppb
No 35
A-
116 Coachella 2.6 ppb
No 11
C-
117 Kingsburg 2.6 ppb
No 17
B
118 Trinity Center 2.6 ppb
No 13
C
119 Corona 2.5 ppb
No 81
D
120 Milpitas 2.5 ppb
No 2
A-
121 Big Bear Lake 2.5 ppb
No 1
B+
122 Hoopa 2.5 ppb
No 16
B+
123 Blue Lake 2.5 ppb
No 1
A+
124 Mccloud 2.4 ppb
No 10
B+
125 Brownsville 2.4 ppb
No 0
A-
126 Yuba City 2.4 ppb
No 24
A-
127 Anderson 2.4 ppb
No 14
C-
128 Orange 2.3 ppb
No 3
B
129 Benicia 2.3 ppb
No 1
A-
130 Tulelake 2.3 ppb
No 8
B
131 Hydesville 2.3 ppb
No 2
B+
132 Chiriaco Summit 2.3 ppb
No 3
A-
133 Live Oak 2.3 ppb
No 26
A-
134 New Cuyama 2.2 ppb
No 21
A
135 California City 2.2 ppb
No 22
A-
136 Bodega Bay 2.2 ppb
No 2
A-
137 Redwood City 2.1 ppb
No 10
B+
138 Tustin 2.1 ppb
No 8
B
139 El Centro 2.1 ppb
No 14
C-
140 Redway 2.1 ppb
No 2
A
141 Palo Verde 2.1 ppb
No 7
C
142 Imperial Beach 2.0 ppb
No 1
A
143 Delano 2.0 ppb
No 67
B
144 Salyer 2.0 ppb
No 16
B-
145 Etna 1.9 ppb
No 2
A-
146 Arcadia 1.9 ppb
No 2
B
147 Alhambra 1.8 ppb
No 7
A-
148 Cutten 1.8 ppb
No 5
A+
149 Hamilton City 1.8 ppb
No 0
A+
150 Labelle 1.8 ppb
No 7
B
151 Mckinleyville 1.8 ppb
No 2
A-
152 Shingletown 1.8 ppb
No 2
B+
153 Claremont 1.7 ppb
No 19
A-
154 Rancho Santa Fe 1.7 ppb
No 3
A-
155 Edwards Afb 1.7 ppb
No 8
A-
156 Corona Del Mar 1.7 ppb
No 3
C-
157 Happy Camp 1.6 ppb
No 2
B+
158 Soquel 1.6 ppb
No 1
A
159 Half Moon Bay 1.6 ppb
No 6
A
160 Frazier Park 1.6 ppb
No 56
C+
161 Montague 1.6 ppb
No 9
B+
162 Grand Terrace 1.5 ppb
No 1
B
163 Klamath 1.5 ppb
No 102
D
164 Lone Pine Reservation 1.5 ppb
No 6
A-
165 Tahoe Vista 1.4 ppb
No 7
A-
166 Chico 1.4 ppb
No 306
F
167 Santa Monica 1.4 ppb
No 0
B
168 Pala 1.4 ppb
No 30
C-
169 West Covina 1.4 ppb
No 25
F
170 Inyokern 1.4 ppb
No 21
D
171 La Selva Beach 1.4 ppb
No 0
A
172 Cedarville 1.4 ppb
No 1
A+
173 Mount Shasta 1.4 ppb
No 11
B+
174 Del Mar 1.3 ppb
No 3
B-
175 Weldon 1.3 ppb
No 193
D+
176 Lake Isabella 1.3 ppb
No 162
D+
177 Nevada City 1.3 ppb
No 8
B+
178 Mojave 1.2 ppb
No 114
D
179 Cabazon 1.2 ppb
No 5
A-
180 Shasta Lake 4510007 1.1 ppb
No 1
A+
181 Encinitas 1.1 ppb
No 55
F
182 Needles 1.1 ppb
No 45
F
183 Los Osos 1.1 ppb
No 0
B+
184 Fowler 1.1 ppb
No 2
A
185 Corning 1.1 ppb
No 17
B-
186 Temecula 1.0 ppb
No 12
C+
187 Fallbrook 1.0 ppb
No 3
A
188 Table Mountain 1.0 ppb
No 9
A-
189 Havasu Lake 1.0 ppb
No 37
D
190 Smith River 1.0 ppb
No 11
C+
191 Bishop Paiute-Shoshone Reservation 1.0 ppb
No 4
B
192 Loleta 1.0 ppb
No 3
B-
193 Bridgeport 1.0 ppb
No 47
B-
194 Herlong 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
195 Meadview 1.0 ppb
No 16
B
196 Meadview 1.0 ppb
No 16
B
197 Wadsworth, Nv 1.0 ppb
No 2
D+
198 Wadsworth, Nv 1.0 ppb
No 2
D+
199 Nixon 1.0 ppb
No 2
C-
200 Nixon 1.0 ppb
No 2
C-
201 Big Pine Reservation 1.0 ppb
No 5
A-
202 Maxwell 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
203 Long Beach 1.0 ppb
No 2
C
204 Shasta 1.0 ppb
No 0
A+
205 Trinidad 0.9 ppb
No 30
D
206 Madera 0.9 ppb
No 564
D
207 Banning 0.9 ppb
No 15
B-
208 Holtville 0.9 ppb
No 66
B-
209 Aromas 0.9 ppb
No 55
B-
210 Grass Valley 0.9 ppb
No 8
A
211 Gerber 0.9 ppb
No 5
B
212 Mt. Shasta 0.9 ppb
No 20
B
213 Burney 0.9 ppb
No 16
A
214 Downey 0.8 ppb
No 14
B
215 Alturas 0.8 ppb
No 11
B+
216 Alpine 0.8 ppb
No 25
C-
217 Oakhurst 0.8 ppb
No 198
D
218 Pomona 0.8 ppb
No 6
C+
219 Orland 0.8 ppb
No 5
A
220 Saugus 0.8 ppb
No 11
A
221 Merced 0.8 ppb
No 9
C+
222 Durham 0.7 ppb
No 3
A
223 Hanford 0.7 ppb
No 197
D+
224 Buttonwillow 0.7 ppb
No 14
A
225 Redding 0.7 ppb
No 49
F
226 Meadow Vista 0.7 ppb
No 0
A+
227 Scotts Valley 0.7 ppb
No 11
B-
228 Wheatland 0.7 ppb
No 2
A
229 Los Angeles 0.6 ppb
No 94
F
230 Ontario 0.6 ppb
No 1
B+
231 Yreka 0.6 ppb
No 9
B+
232 Big Sur 0.6 ppb
No 58
C+
233 Yorba Linda 0.6 ppb
No 38
B
234 Greenville 0.6 ppb
No 22
A-
235 Cayucos 0.6 ppb
No 2
A+
236 Coarsegold 0.5 ppb
No 24
C-
237 Garberville 0.5 ppb
No 8
B-
238 Azusa 0.4 ppb
No 2
B+
239 San Diego 0.0 ppb
No 43
F
240 Sacramento 0.0 ppb
No 425
F
241 Burlingame 0.0 ppb
No 14
A-
242 Anaheim 0.0 ppb
No 8
C+
243 Fresno 0.0 ppb
No 523
F
244 Irvine 0.0 ppb
No 84
F
245 Riverside 0.0 ppb
No 13
C
246 Fremont 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
247 Covina 0.0 ppb
No 10
B
248 Hawthorne 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
249 Santa Ana 0.0 ppb
No 8
C
250 Newhall 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
251 El Monte 0.0 ppb
No 79
F
252 La Mesa 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
253 Palm Desert 0.0 ppb
No 12
C+
254 Spring Valley 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
255 Fontana 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
256 Rosemead 0.0 ppb
No 17
C-
257 Stockton 0.0 ppb
No 261
F
258 San Bernardin0 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
259 Oxnard 0.0 ppb
No 49
F
260 Rancho Cucamonga 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
261 Huntington Beach 0.0 ppb
No 5
C-
262 Pasadena 0.0 ppb
No 92
F
263 Chula Vista 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
264 Glendale 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
265 Corte Madera 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
266 Santa Rosa 0.0 ppb
No 177
F
267 Jurupa Valley 0.0 ppb
No 62
B
268 Pleasanton 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
269 Garden Grove 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
270 Oceanside 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
271 Laguna Hills 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
272 Lake Elsinore 0.0 ppb
No 8
A
273 Rancho Santa Margarita 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
274 San Bernardino 0.0 ppb
No 192
F
275 Hayward 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
276 Rialto 0.0 ppb
No 6
B+
277 Sunnyvale 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
278 Roseville 0.0 ppb
No 11
B
279 Placerville 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
280 Fullerton 0.0 ppb
No 8
B
281 Bakersfield 0.0 ppb
No 690
F
282 Vista 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
283 Clovis 0.0 ppb
No 221
F
284 Palmdale 0.0 ppb
No 15
C+
285 Vallejo 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
286 Auburn 0.0 ppb
No 8
A
287 Santa Barbara 0.0 ppb
No 52
F
288 Davis 0.0 ppb
No 47
B+
289 Antioch 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
290 Ventura 0.0 ppb
No 21
D+
291 San Marcos 0.0 ppb
No 27
D
292 Costa Mesa 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
293 Highland 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
294 South Lake Tahoe 0.0 ppb
No 15
C
295 Torrance 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
296 Burbank 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
297 Daly City 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
298 Walnut 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
299 Hesperia 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
300 Tracy 0.0 ppb
No 45
C
301 Chino 0.0 ppb
No 9
B
302 Santa Cruz 0.0 ppb
No 38
F
303 Simi Valley 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
304 Carlsbad 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
305 Santee 0.0 ppb
No 14
B
306 Hemet 0.0 ppb
No 31
B-
307 Napa 0.0 ppb
No 53
F
308 Camarillo 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
309 Manteca 0.0 ppb
No 39
B-
310 Goleta 0.0 ppb
No 11
B
311 Placentia 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
312 Buena Park 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
313 Mountain View 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
314 Inglewood 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
315 South Gate 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
316 Chino Hills 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
317 Compton 0.0 ppb
No 8
B
318 Whittier 0.0 ppb
No 4
C+
319 Palm Springs 0.0 ppb
No 16
B
320 Tulare 0.0 ppb
No 61
C-
321 Baldwin Park 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
322 Turlock 0.0 ppb
No 16
B-
323 Calabasas 0.0 ppb
No 14
A-
324 Palo Alto 0.0 ppb
No 8
A-
325 Lodi 0.0 ppb
No 16
C+
326 Newport Beach 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
327 Watsonville 0.0 ppb
No 74
F
328 Citrus Heights 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
329 Lynwood 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
330 Lakewood 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
331 Woodland 0.0 ppb
No 52
F
332 Brentwood 0.0 ppb
No 91
F
333 Salinas 0.0 ppb
No 639
F
334 Novato 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
335 La Habra 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
336 Pico Rivera 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
337 Pittsburg 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
338 Monterey Park 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
339 Petaluma 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
340 Gilroy 0.0 ppb
No 28
C+
341 Yucaipa 0.0 ppb
No 9
C+
342 Montclair 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
343 Paramount 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
344 Apple Valley 0.0 ppb
No 57
D
345 Rohnert Park 0.0 ppb
No 21
F
346 Camp Pendleton 0.0 ppb
No 13
B
347 Ceres 0.0 ppb
No 129
F
348 Rowland Heights 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
349 Lincoln 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
350 Hollister 0.0 ppb
No 132
F
351 West Sacramento 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
352 Thousand Oaks 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
353 Lake Forest 0.0 ppb
No 38
B-
354 San Clemente 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
355 Lompoc 0.0 ppb
No 18
C
356 Glendora 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
357 Poway 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
358 Colton 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
359 Los Banos 0.0 ppb
No 29
B
360 Brea 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
361 Cerritos 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
362 Bellflower 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
363 Oakley 0.0 ppb
No 60
D
364 Desert Hot Springs 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
365 Elk Grove 0.0 ppb
No 28
C
366 Adelanto 0.0 ppb
No 13
C
367 Lemoore 0.0 ppb
No 112
D
368 Ridgecrest 0.0 ppb
No 26
A-
369 Montebello 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
370 San Bruno 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
371 Carmichael 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
372 Moorpark 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
373 Beverly Hills 0.0 ppb
No 18
B
374 Loma Linda 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
375 Calexico 0.0 ppb
No 7
B-
376 Lebec 0.0 ppb
No 42
C
377 Livermore 0.0 ppb
No 53
B
378 Pacifica 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
379 Marina 0.0 ppb
No 4
A+
380 Julian 0.0 ppb
No 22
D
381 Monrovia 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
382 Sonora 0.0 ppb
No 25
D+
383 Vacaville 0.0 ppb
No 26
F
384 Huntington Park 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
385 Fair Oaks 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
386 Foster City 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
387 Paso Robles 0.0 ppb
No 42
F
388 Stanford 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
389 La Crescenta 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
390 Lakeside 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
391 Oroville 0.0 ppb
No 7
C-
392 Lathrop 0.0 ppb
No 44
B
393 Atascadero 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
394 San Andreas 0.0 ppb
No 17
B-
395 Tehachapi 0.0 ppb
No 96
F
396 Ukiah 0.0 ppb
No 14
C+
397 Santa Paula 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
398 La Verne 0.0 ppb
No 6
B+
399 Martinez 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
400 Yucca Valley 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
401 Imperial 0.0 ppb
No 36
C+
402 Granite Bay 0.0 ppb
No 43
B-
403 Belmont 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
404 Altadena 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
405 Atwater 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
406 Norco 0.0 ppb
No 39
F
407 Soledad 0.0 ppb
No 28
C+
408 Phelan 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
409 Vernon 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
410 Eureka 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
411 Wasco 0.0 ppb
No 26
B+
412 Oakdale 0.0 ppb
No 34
C-
413 Olivehurst 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
414 Brawley 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
415 Reedley 0.0 ppb
No 12
B-
416 Galt 0.0 ppb
No 27
B+
417 Sanger 0.0 ppb
No 16
C
418 South Pasadena 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
419 Patterson 0.0 ppb
No 35
B+
420 Shafter 0.0 ppb
No 25
A-
421 Mountain House 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
422 Seal Beach 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
423 Riverbank 0.0 ppb
No 75
D
424 Quartz Hill 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
425 San Fernando 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
426 Arroyo Grande 0.0 ppb
No 93
F
427 El Verano 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
428 Millbrae 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
429 Cudahy 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
430 Marysville 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
431 Temescal Valley 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
432 Port Hueneme 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
433 American Canyon 0.0 ppb
No 15
A-
434 Taft 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
435 Norwalk 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
436 Lomita 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
437 Arvin 0.0 ppb
No 81
C+
438 Lamont 0.0 ppb
No 40
B+
439 Chowchilla 0.0 ppb
No 25
A-
440 Greenfield 0.0 ppb
No 17
B
441 Twentynine Palms 0.0 ppb
No 70
B+
442 Sausalito 0.0 ppb
No 4
A+
443 Coalinga 0.0 ppb
No 267
D
444 Rosamond 0.0 ppb
No 205
F
445 Oak View 0.0 ppb
No 12
B+
446 Kerman 0.0 ppb
No 13
B
447 Crestline 0.0 ppb
No 9
C+
448 Fillmore 0.0 ppb
No 13
B-
449 Orangevale 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
450 Discovery Bay 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
451 El Segundo 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
452 Sutter Creek 0.0 ppb
No 7
B+
453 Blythe 0.0 ppb
No 143
D
454 Cupertino 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
455 Carpinteria 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
456 Red Bluff 0.0 ppb
No 23
F
457 Ripon 0.0 ppb
No 10
A-
458 Fort Irwin 0.0 ppb
No 60
B+
459 Rio Linda 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
460 Vandenberg Sfb 0.0 ppb
No 8
A
461 Livingston 0.0 ppb
No 29
C-
462 Point Mugu 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
463 Parlier 0.0 ppb
No 14
A-
464 Westlake Village 0.0 ppb
No 8
F
465 La Puente 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
466 Mcfarland 0.0 ppb
No 42
C+
467 Morro Bay 0.0 ppb
No 12
A-
468 Jamul 0.0 ppb
No 16
C+
469 Susanville 0.0 ppb
No 34
A-
470 Nipomo 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
471 Clearlake 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
472 Avenal 0.0 ppb
No 35
B
473 South San Francisco 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
474 Sonoma 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
475 Palomar Mtn Road 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
476 Grover Beach 0.0 ppb
No 34
F
477 Tahoe City 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
478 Big Bear City 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
479 Dixon 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
480 Fortuna 0.0 ppb
No 7
B-
481 Maywood 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
482 Newman 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
483 Hillsborough 0.0 ppb
No 7
A
484 Exeter 0.0 ppb
No 41
B
485 King George 0.0 ppb
No 30
D+
486 Calimesa 0.0 ppb
No 6
B
487 Healdsburg 0.0 ppb
No 12
B+
488 Ojai 0.0 ppb
No 35
C-
489 Bell Gardens 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
490 Mendota 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
491 Cloverdale 0.0 ppb
No 9
B
492 Sierra Madre 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
493 Farmersville 0.0 ppb
No 20
B+
494 Rio Vista 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
495 Willits 0.0 ppb
No 23
C-
496 Royal Oaks 0.0 ppb
No 201
D
497 La Canada Flintridge 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
498 Guerneville 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
499 Bishop 0.0 ppb
No 25
D
500 Winton 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
501 Orange Cove 0.0 ppb
No 10
B+
502 Bermuda Dunes 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
503 Forestville 0.0 ppb
No 14
B-
504 La Canada 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
505 Huron 0.0 ppb
No 69
B-
506 Paradise 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
507 Mammoth Lakes 0.0 ppb
No 24
B
508 Guadalupe 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
509 Pismo Beach 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
510 Firebaugh 0.0 ppb
No 89
D
511 Templeton 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
512 Gonzales 0.0 ppb
No 53
F
513 Santa Ynez 0.0 ppb
No 14
A-
514 Orosi 0.0 ppb
No 6
A+
515 Lancaster 0.0 ppb
No 204
D
516 Dinuba 0.0 ppb
No 24
A-
517 Earlimart 0.0 ppb
No 40
B
518 Fort Bragg 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
519 Castroville 0.0 ppb
No 86
D+
520 Lake Almanor 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
521 Lake Arrowhead 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
522 Woodlake 0.0 ppb
No 14
A+
523 Delhi 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
524 Oceano 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
525 Hughson 0.0 ppb
No 139
D+
526 Represa 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
527 Dos Palos 0.0 ppb
No 43
C
528 Escalon 0.0 ppb
No 13
A
529 Cotati 0.0 ppb
No 9
A-
530 Solvang 0.0 ppb
No 6
B
531 Gridley 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
532 Cottonwood 0.0 ppb
No 7
B
533 Winters 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
534 Castaic 0.0 ppb
No 17
F
535 Heber 0.0 ppb
No 15
A
536 Kelseyville 0.0 ppb
No 36
B-
537 Jackson 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
538 Beale Afb 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
539 China Lake 0.0 ppb
No 8
A
540 Helendale 0.0 ppb
No 22
A-
541 St. Helena 0.0 ppb
No 29
C+
542 Idyllwild 0.0 ppb
No 10
B
543 Hidden Valley Lake 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
544 Gustine 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
545 Cutler 0.0 ppb
No 20
B
546 Montara 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
547 Rancho Murieta 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
548 Keyes 0.0 ppb
No 60
B+
549 Villa Park 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
550 Weed 0.0 ppb
No 12
B-
551 Williams 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
552 Cambria 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
553 Hilmar 0.0 ppb
No 17
C
554 La Habra Heights 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
555 Buellton 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
556 Carnelian Bay 0.0 ppb
No 15
B
557 Denair 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
558 Murphys 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
559 Visalia 0.0 ppb
No 121
D+
560 Ivanhoe 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
561 San Francisco 0.0 ppb
No 100
F
562 Palomar Mountain 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
563 La Grange 0.0 ppb
No 13
B
564 Planada 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
565 Portola 0.0 ppb
No 71
C-
566 Armona 0.0 ppb
No 71
B+
567 Angels Camp 0.0 ppb
No 21
B+
568 Jamestown 0.0 ppb
No 25
C+
569 Weaverville 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
570 San Joaquin 0.0 ppb
No 13
A
571 Wildomar 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
572 Lockeford 0.0 ppb
No 9
A-
573 Quincy 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
574 Avalon 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
575 Yountville 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
576 Mariposa 0.0 ppb
No 71
C
577 Aptos 0.0 ppb
No 9
A-
578 Los Gatos 0.0 ppb
No 138
D
579 Chester 0.0 ppb
No 9
A
580 Esparto 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
581 Twain Harte 0.0 ppb
No 5
C+
582 Borrego Springs 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
583 Strathmore 0.0 ppb
No 118
D+
584 Angwin 0.0 ppb
No 37
B
585 Moreno Valley 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
586 Rio Dell 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
587 Lucerne Valley 0.0 ppb
No 37
D
588 Avila Beach 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
589 Bloomington 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
590 Boron 0.0 ppb
No 60
B+
591 Littlerock 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
592 Independence 0.0 ppb
No 3
C+
593 Nice 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
594 Sutter 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
595 Pine Valley 0.0 ppb
No 11
B-
596 Riverdale 0.0 ppb
No 69
B+
597 Arbuckle 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
598 Pixley 0.0 ppb
No 59
B
599 Springville 0.0 ppb
No 82
D+
600 Caruthers 0.0 ppb
No 63
B-
601 Terra Bella 0.0 ppb
No 26
A-
602 Mi Wuk Village 0.0 ppb
No 7
B+
603 Talmage 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
604 San Miguel 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
605 Gualala 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
606 Middletown 0.0 ppb
No 32
D+
607 Tipton 0.0 ppb
No 15
B+
608 San Juan Bautista 0.0 ppb
No 18
C+
609 Bolinas 0.0 ppb
No 49
A-
610 Cedarpines Park 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
611 Lost Hills 0.0 ppb
No 13
A
612 Clearlake Oak 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
613 Bradley 0.0 ppb
No 43
D+
614 Santa Nella 0.0 ppb
No 15
A
615 Pine Grove 0.0 ppb
No 17
B
616 Westmorland 0.0 ppb
No 20
B
617 Poplar 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
618 Big Pine 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
619 Midway City 0.0 ppb
No 11
A
620 Dunsmuir 0.0 ppb
No 7
B-
621 Yosemite Np 0.0 ppb
No 10
B-
622 Mt. Baldy 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
623 Trona 0.0 ppb
No 21
A
624 Elizabeth Lake 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
625 Linden 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
626 Cold Springs 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
627 Le Grand 0.0 ppb
No 15
B-
628 Seeley 0.0 ppb
No 53
B-
629 Biola 0.0 ppb
No 12
A
630 Richgrove 0.0 ppb
No 24
C
631 Graeagle 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
632 Devore 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
633 Fall River Mills 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
634 Los Alamos 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
635 Downieville 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
636 Del Rey 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
637 North Edwards 0.0 ppb
No 119
D
638 Forest Falls 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
639 Los Molinos 0.0 ppb
No 50
A-
640 Plymouth 0.0 ppb
No 6
B
641 Grizzly Flats 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
642 Bethel Island 0.0 ppb
No 12
C+
643 Barstow 0.0 ppb
No 66
F
644 Laton 0.0 ppb
No 49
C+
645 Willow Creek 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
646 Green Valley 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
647 Kettleman City 0.0 ppb
No 58
C+
648 Mount Hermon 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
649 Camp Meeker 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
650 Sea Ranch 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
651 Dillon Beach 0.0 ppb
No 32
B
652 Laytonville 0.0 ppb
No 13
A
653 Waterford 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
654 Platina 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
655 Saratoga 0.0 ppb
No 7
B+
656 Sultana 0.0 ppb
No 73
C-
657 Baker 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
658 Lindsay 0.0 ppb
No 240
F
659 Loyalton 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
660 North Highlands 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
661 San Martin 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
662 Scotia 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
663 Dorris 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
664 Madison 0.0 ppb
No 6
D+
665 Alpaugh 0.0 ppb
No 48
B
666 Shaver Lake 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
667 Lake Arrowhead Ca 92352 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
668 Llano 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
669 Clio 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
670 Tranquillity 0.0 ppb
No 37
B
671 Monterey 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
672 Eldorado Hills 0.0 ppb
No 8
B
673 Daggett 0.0 ppb
No 34
D+
674 West Hollywood 0.0 ppb
No 17
B-
675 Orleans 0.0 ppb
No 28
C+
676 Clayton 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
677 Gasquet 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
678 Mountain Pass 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
679 Bear Valley 0.0 ppb
No 22
B+
680 Isleton 0.0 ppb
No 52
C+
681 Ducor 0.0 ppb
No 10
A-
682 Los Altos 0.0 ppb
No 13
B
683 Warsaw 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
684 Stinson Beach 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
685 San Ardo 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
686 River Pines 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
687 Crows Landing 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
688 Jacumba 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
689 Crowley Lake 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
690 Ludlow 0.0 ppb
No 82
D+
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in California

Is lead in California tap water a concern?

Yes — 7 of 690 cities with lead data exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average is 1.4 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from California tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which California cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in California are: Hayfork (44.1 ppb), La Honda (25.6 ppb), Green Valley Lake (24.9 ppb), Lakeport (24.0 ppb), 29 Palms (20.0 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

More contaminants

Other contaminants in California

PFAS in California
Ranked by compounds detected
→
Copper in California
Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)
→
HAA5 in California
Ranked by average concentration (µg/L)
→
Chromium-6 in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Arsenic in California
Ranked by violation count
→
Nitrate in California
Ranked by violation count
→
Strontium in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
1,4-Dioxane in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Manganese in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Vanadium in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Chlorate in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Molybdenum in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Cobalt in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Lithium in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
NDMA in California
Ranked by max detected (ng/L)
→
Perchlorate in California
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
All states

Lead in drinking water by state

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
← Lead contamination overview Explore California water quality → National Lead map →