WaterVerge
Alerts Cities States PFAS Tracker Guides News Maps Glossary Methodology
Lead Contamination

Lead in California Drinking Water

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

694
Cities Tested
8
Exceeds Limit
1%
% Exceeds Limit
1.4 ppb
State Avg
▼ 1% vs national
vs National
624
Health Violations
Analysis

Lead in California: what the data shows

California has 694 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. 8 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%
8 of 694 cities
← ▼ 1% below national rate (better)
National avg
2%
378 of 15681 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- San Simeon 45.0 ppb Yes 601
  2. 2 B- Hayfork 44.1 ppb Yes 2K
  3. 3 C- La Honda 25.6 ppb Yes 1K
  4. 4 C+ Green Valley Lake 24.9 ppb Yes 3K
  5. 5 C- Lakeport 24.0 ppb Yes 18K
  6. 6 B 29 Palms 20.0 ppb Yes 15K
  7. 7 B Santa Clara 18.2 ppb Yes 131K
  8. 8 B- Arnold 16.0 ppb Yes 6K
  9. 9 B+ Hume 15.0 ppb 2K
  10. 10 B+ Olympic Valley 14.4 ppb 1K
All Cities

All California cities ranked by lead level

# City Level Level Exceeds? Violations Grade
1 San Simeon 45.0 ppb
Yes 3
B-
2 Hayfork 44.1 ppb
Yes 1
B-
3 La Honda 25.6 ppb
Yes 9
C-
4 Green Valley Lake 24.9 ppb
Yes 2
C+
5 Lakeport 24.0 ppb
Yes 14
C-
6 29 Palms 20.0 ppb
Yes 3
B
7 Santa Clara 18.2 ppb
Yes 5
B
8 Arnold 16.0 ppb
Yes 2
B-
9 Hume 15.0 ppb
No 3
B+
10 Olympic Valley 14.4 ppb
No 1
B+
11 Pinecrest 12.1 ppb
No 3
B-
12 Modesto 12.0 ppb
No 76
D
13 Carmel 11.5 ppb
No 49
C-
14 Upland 11.0 ppb
No 4
B+
15 Joshua Tree 11.0 ppb
No 3
A-
16 Pine Mountain Club 11.0 ppb
No 9
A-
17 Paicines 10.7 ppb
No 9
B-
18 Moffett Field 10.4 ppb
No 1
A
19 Santa Maria 10.0 ppb
No 36
F
20 Calistoga 10.0 ppb
No 15
C+
21 Seaside 10.0 ppb
No 1
A-
22 Skyforest 10.0 ppb
No 0
A-
23 Anza 10.0 ppb
No 53
F
24 Corcoran 9.3 ppb
No 3
A
25 Twin Peaks 9.3 ppb
No 3
B
26 Bear River - Tish Non Village 9.3 ppb
No 0
A-
27 Lower Lake 8.0 ppb
No 3
B+
28 Point Reyes Station 8.0 ppb
No 0
A-
29 Lee Vining 8.0 ppb
No 1
A-
30 Beaumont 7.8 ppb
No 2
A-
31 Menlo Park 7.4 ppb
No 2
A-
32 Biggs 6.9 ppb
No 3
B+
33 Campo 6.9 ppb
No 74
D
34 Colusa 6.6 ppb
No 6
C-
35 Groveland 6.6 ppb
No 4
B-
36 Running Springs 6.1 ppb
No 3
B
37 Pacific Grove 6.0 ppb
No 15
B-
38 Fountain Valley 6.0 ppb
No 0
A
39 Morgan Hill 6.0 ppb
No 92
F
40 Los Altos Hills 6.0 ppb
No 4
A-
41 Friant 6.0 ppb
No 19
A-
42 Laguna Beach 5.9 ppb
No 2
B
43 Boulder Creek 5.9 ppb
No 119
F
44 Cobb 5.8 ppb
No 3
C+
45 Grimes 5.8 ppb
No 61
D
46 San Dimas 5.6 ppb
No 6
B-
47 Santa Fe Springs 5.6 ppb
No 1
B+
48 San Jose 5.5 ppb
No 142
F
49 Folsom 5.4 ppb
No 1
A-
50 Manhattan Beach 5.4 ppb
No 1
A-
51 San Jacinto 5.3 ppb
No 9
B
52 Altoona 5.3 ppb
No 3
B
53 Indio 5.0 ppb
No 12
F
54 Porterville 5.0 ppb
No 74
F
55 Valley Center 5.0 ppb
No 15
F
56 Windsor 5.0 ppb
No 2
A+
57 Brooks 5.0 ppb
No 2
B+
58 Shingle Springs 5.0 ppb
No 0
B+
59 Santa Ysabel 5.0 ppb
No 17
D
60 Pauma Valley 5.0 ppb
No 88
F
61 Thermal 5.0 ppb
No 127
D
62 Tule River Reservation 5.0 ppb
No 34
D
63 Arrowbear Lake 5.0 ppb
No 1
A
64 Upper Lake 5.0 ppb
No 4
B
65 Point Arena 5.0 ppb
No 24
D
66 Redwood Valley 5.0 ppb
No 2
C
67 Dublin 4.8 ppb
No 0
A
68 Westminster 4.7 ppb
No 2
A-
69 Phillipsville 4.4 ppb
No 19
B-
70 Mineral 4.2 ppb
No 2
A-
71 La Palma 4.1 ppb
No 0
A-
72 Alpine Meadows 4.0 ppb
No 1
A
73 Blairsden 4.0 ppb
No 44
B
74 Boulder 4.0 ppb
No 1
B+
75 Georgetown 4.0 ppb
No 4
B+
76 Valley Springs 3.9 ppb
No 2
A
77 Trabuco Canyon 3.9 ppb
No 2
A-
78 Kernville 3.8 ppb
No 38
B-
79 Occidental 3.8 ppb
No 3
A
80 Ramona 3.7 ppb
No 36
C
81 Carmel Valley 3.7 ppb
No 45
C+
82 Arcata 3.6 ppb
No 3
A
83 Mountain Center 3.6 ppb
No 1
B+
84 Rancho Cordova 3.5 ppb
No 115
F
85 Sebastopol 3.4 ppb
No 18
B-
86 Santa Rosa Rancheria 3.4 ppb
No 25
D
87 Crescent City 3.4 ppb
No 14
C
88 Escondido 3.3 ppb
No 10
B
89 Truckee 3.3 ppb
No 7
A-
90 Felton 3.3 ppb
No 21
C
91 Concord 3.2 ppb
No 19
B-
92 Whitethorn 3.2 ppb
No 38
B+
93 Fort Jones 3.1 ppb
No 3
A
94 El Cajon 3.0 ppb
No 24
B+
95 Three Rivers 3.0 ppb
No 177
F
96 Brisbane 3.0 ppb
No 5
A-
97 Westwood 2.9 ppb
No 13
A
98 Redlands 2.9 ppb
No 2
B
99 Pinedale 2.9 ppb
No 7
A-
100 Signal Hill 2.9 ppb
No 6
B
101 Nuevo 2.9 ppb
No 6
B+
102 Barona North Reservation 2.9 ppb
No 0
A-
103 Lakehead 2.9 ppb
No 4
B
104 Perris 2.8 ppb
No 0
A
105 Victorville 2.8 ppb
No 1
B+
106 Fairfield 2.8 ppb
No 7
B-
107 San Luis Obispo 2.8 ppb
No 27
F
108 Kirkwood 2.8 ppb
No 0
A
109 Angelus Oaks 2.8 ppb
No 7
B-
110 Mount Baldy 2.8 ppb
No 0
A
111 Foresthill 2.8 ppb
No 3
B+
112 Oakland 2.7 ppb
No 13
B
113 East Palo Alto 2.7 ppb
No 8
A
114 June Lake 2.7 ppb
No 14
B
115 Ione 2.7 ppb
No 13
A-
116 Inverness 2.7 ppb
No 27
A-
117 Junction City 2.7 ppb
No 35
A-
118 Coachella 2.6 ppb
No 11
C-
119 Kingsburg 2.6 ppb
No 17
B
120 Trinity Center 2.6 ppb
No 13
C
121 Corona 2.5 ppb
No 81
D
122 Milpitas 2.5 ppb
No 2
A-
123 Big Bear Lake 2.5 ppb
No 1
B+
124 Hoopa 2.5 ppb
No 16
B+
125 Blue Lake 2.5 ppb
No 1
A+
126 Mccloud 2.4 ppb
No 10
B+
127 Brownsville 2.4 ppb
No 0
A-
128 Yuba City 2.4 ppb
No 24
A-
129 Anderson 2.4 ppb
No 14
C-
130 Orange 2.3 ppb
No 3
B
131 Benicia 2.3 ppb
No 1
A-
132 Tulelake 2.3 ppb
No 8
B
133 Hydesville 2.3 ppb
No 2
B+
134 Chiriaco Summit 2.3 ppb
No 3
A-
135 Live Oak 2.3 ppb
No 26
A-
136 New Cuyama 2.2 ppb
No 21
A
137 California City 2.2 ppb
No 22
A-
138 Bodega Bay 2.2 ppb
No 2
A-
139 Redwood City 2.1 ppb
No 10
B+
140 Tustin 2.1 ppb
No 8
B
141 El Centro 2.1 ppb
No 14
C-
142 Redway 2.1 ppb
No 2
A
143 Palo Verde 2.1 ppb
No 7
C
144 Imperial Beach 2.0 ppb
No 1
A
145 Delano 2.0 ppb
No 67
B
146 Salyer 2.0 ppb
No 16
B-
147 Etna 1.9 ppb
No 2
A-
148 Arcadia 1.9 ppb
No 2
B
149 Alhambra 1.8 ppb
No 7
A-
150 Cutten 1.8 ppb
No 5
A+
151 Hamilton City 1.8 ppb
No 0
A+
152 Labelle 1.8 ppb
No 7
B
153 Mckinleyville 1.8 ppb
No 2
A-
154 Shingletown 1.8 ppb
No 2
B+
155 Claremont 1.7 ppb
No 19
A-
156 Rancho Santa Fe 1.7 ppb
No 3
A-
157 Edwards Afb 1.7 ppb
No 8
A-
158 Corona Del Mar 1.7 ppb
No 3
C-
159 Happy Camp 1.6 ppb
No 2
B+
160 Soquel 1.6 ppb
No 1
A
161 Half Moon Bay 1.6 ppb
No 6
A
162 Frazier Park 1.6 ppb
No 56
C+
163 Montague 1.6 ppb
No 9
B+
164 Grand Terrace 1.5 ppb
No 1
B
165 Klamath 1.5 ppb
No 102
D
166 Lone Pine Reservation 1.5 ppb
No 6
A-
167 Tahoe Vista 1.4 ppb
No 7
A-
168 Chico 1.4 ppb
No 306
F
169 Santa Monica 1.4 ppb
No 0
B
170 Pala 1.4 ppb
No 30
C-
171 West Covina 1.4 ppb
No 25
F
172 Inyokern 1.4 ppb
No 21
D
173 La Selva Beach 1.4 ppb
No 0
A
174 Cedarville 1.4 ppb
No 1
A+
175 Mount Shasta 1.4 ppb
No 11
B+
176 Del Mar 1.3 ppb
No 3
B-
177 Weldon 1.3 ppb
No 193
D+
178 Lake Isabella 1.3 ppb
No 162
D+
179 Nevada City 1.3 ppb
No 8
B+
180 Mojave 1.2 ppb
No 114
D
181 Cabazon 1.2 ppb
No 5
A-
182 Shasta Lake 4510007 1.1 ppb
No 1
A+
183 Encinitas 1.1 ppb
No 55
F
184 Needles 1.1 ppb
No 45
F
185 Los Osos 1.1 ppb
No 0
B+
186 Fowler 1.1 ppb
No 2
A
187 Yuma 1.1 ppb
No 22
D
188 Corning 1.1 ppb
No 17
B-
189 Temecula 1.0 ppb
No 12
C+
190 Fallbrook 1.0 ppb
No 3
A
191 Table Mountain 1.0 ppb
No 9
A-
192 Havasu Lake 1.0 ppb
No 37
D
193 Smith River 1.0 ppb
No 11
C+
194 Bishop Paiute-Shoshone Reservation 1.0 ppb
No 4
B
195 Loleta 1.0 ppb
No 3
B-
196 Bridgeport 1.0 ppb
No 47
B-
197 Herlong 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
198 Meadview 1.0 ppb
No 16
B
199 Meadview 1.0 ppb
No 16
B
200 Wadsworth, Nv 1.0 ppb
No 2
D+
201 Wadsworth, Nv 1.0 ppb
No 2
D+
202 Nixon 1.0 ppb
No 2
C-
203 Nixon 1.0 ppb
No 2
C-
204 Big Pine Reservation 1.0 ppb
No 5
A-
205 Maxwell 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
206 Long Beach 1.0 ppb
No 2
C
207 Shasta 1.0 ppb
No 0
A+
208 Trinidad 0.9 ppb
No 30
D
209 Madera 0.9 ppb
No 564
D
210 Banning 0.9 ppb
No 15
B-
211 Holtville 0.9 ppb
No 66
B-
212 Aromas 0.9 ppb
No 55
B-
213 Grass Valley 0.9 ppb
No 8
A
214 Gerber 0.9 ppb
No 5
B
215 Mt. Shasta 0.9 ppb
No 20
B
216 Burney 0.9 ppb
No 16
A
217 Downey 0.8 ppb
No 14
B
218 Alturas 0.8 ppb
No 11
B+
219 Alpine 0.8 ppb
No 25
C-
220 Oakhurst 0.8 ppb
No 198
D
221 Pomona 0.8 ppb
No 6
C+
222 Orland 0.8 ppb
No 5
A
223 Saugus 0.8 ppb
No 11
A
224 Merced 0.8 ppb
No 9
C+
225 Durham 0.7 ppb
No 3
A
226 Hanford 0.7 ppb
No 197
D+
227 Buttonwillow 0.7 ppb
No 14
A
228 Redding 0.7 ppb
No 49
F
229 Meadow Vista 0.7 ppb
No 0
A+
230 Scotts Valley 0.7 ppb
No 11
B-
231 Wheatland 0.7 ppb
No 2
A
232 Los Angeles 0.6 ppb
No 94
F
233 Ontario 0.6 ppb
No 1
B+
234 Yreka 0.6 ppb
No 9
B+
235 Big Sur 0.6 ppb
No 58
C+
236 Yorba Linda 0.6 ppb
No 38
B
237 Greenville 0.6 ppb
No 22
A-
238 Cayucos 0.6 ppb
No 2
A+
239 Coarsegold 0.5 ppb
No 24
C-
240 Garberville 0.5 ppb
No 8
B-
241 Azusa 0.4 ppb
No 2
B+
242 San Diego 0.0 ppb
No 43
F
243 Sacramento 0.0 ppb
No 425
F
244 Burlingame 0.0 ppb
No 14
A-
245 Anaheim 0.0 ppb
No 8
C+
246 Fresno 0.0 ppb
No 523
F
247 Irvine 0.0 ppb
No 84
F
248 Riverside 0.0 ppb
No 13
C
249 Hawthorne 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
250 Fremont 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
251 Covina 0.0 ppb
No 10
B
252 Santa Ana 0.0 ppb
No 8
C
253 Bakersfield 0.0 ppb
No 690
F
254 Newhall 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
255 El Monte 0.0 ppb
No 79
F
256 La Mesa 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
257 Palm Desert 0.0 ppb
No 12
C+
258 Spring Valley 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
259 Fontana 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
260 Rosemead 0.0 ppb
No 17
C-
261 Stockton 0.0 ppb
No 261
F
262 San Bernardin0 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
263 Oxnard 0.0 ppb
No 49
F
264 Rancho Cucamonga 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
265 Huntington Beach 0.0 ppb
No 5
C-
266 Pasadena 0.0 ppb
No 92
F
267 Chula Vista 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
268 Glendale 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
269 Corte Madera 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
270 Santa Rosa 0.0 ppb
No 177
F
271 Jurupa Valley 0.0 ppb
No 62
B
272 Pleasanton 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
273 Garden Grove 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
274 Oceanside 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
275 Laguna Hills 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
276 Lake Elsinore 0.0 ppb
No 8
A
277 Rancho Santa Margarita 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
278 San Bernardino 0.0 ppb
No 192
F
279 Hayward 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
280 Rialto 0.0 ppb
No 6
B+
281 Sunnyvale 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
282 Roseville 0.0 ppb
No 11
B
283 Placerville 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
284 Fullerton 0.0 ppb
No 8
B
285 Vacaville 0.0 ppb
No 26
F
286 Vista 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
287 Clovis 0.0 ppb
No 221
F
288 Palmdale 0.0 ppb
No 15
C+
289 Vallejo 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
290 Auburn 0.0 ppb
No 8
A
291 Santa Barbara 0.0 ppb
No 52
F
292 Davis 0.0 ppb
No 47
B+
293 Antioch 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
294 Ventura 0.0 ppb
No 21
D+
295 San Marcos 0.0 ppb
No 27
D
296 Costa Mesa 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
297 Highland 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
298 South Lake Tahoe 0.0 ppb
No 15
C
299 Torrance 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
300 Burbank 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
301 Daly City 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
302 Walnut 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
303 Hesperia 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
304 Tracy 0.0 ppb
No 45
C
305 Chino 0.0 ppb
No 9
B
306 Santa Cruz 0.0 ppb
No 38
F
307 Simi Valley 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
308 Carlsbad 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
309 Santee 0.0 ppb
No 14
B
310 Hemet 0.0 ppb
No 31
B-
311 Napa 0.0 ppb
No 53
F
312 Camarillo 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
313 Manteca 0.0 ppb
No 39
B-
314 Goleta 0.0 ppb
No 11
B
315 Placentia 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
316 Buena Park 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
317 Mountain View 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
318 Inglewood 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
319 South Gate 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
320 Chino Hills 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
321 Compton 0.0 ppb
No 8
B
322 Whittier 0.0 ppb
No 4
C+
323 Palm Springs 0.0 ppb
No 16
B
324 Tulare 0.0 ppb
No 61
C-
325 Baldwin Park 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
326 Turlock 0.0 ppb
No 16
B-
327 Calabasas 0.0 ppb
No 14
A-
328 Palo Alto 0.0 ppb
No 8
A-
329 Lodi 0.0 ppb
No 16
C+
330 Newport Beach 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
331 Watsonville 0.0 ppb
No 74
F
332 Citrus Heights 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
333 Lynwood 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
334 Lakewood 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
335 Woodland 0.0 ppb
No 52
F
336 Brentwood 0.0 ppb
No 91
F
337 Salinas 0.0 ppb
No 639
F
338 Novato 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
339 La Habra 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
340 Pico Rivera 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
341 Pittsburg 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
342 Monterey Park 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
343 Petaluma 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
344 Gilroy 0.0 ppb
No 28
C+
345 Yucaipa 0.0 ppb
No 9
C+
346 Montclair 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
347 Paramount 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
348 Apple Valley 0.0 ppb
No 57
D
349 Rohnert Park 0.0 ppb
No 21
F
350 Camp Pendleton 0.0 ppb
No 13
B
351 Ceres 0.0 ppb
No 129
F
352 Rowland Heights 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
353 Lincoln 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
354 Hollister 0.0 ppb
No 132
F
355 West Sacramento 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
356 Thousand Oaks 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
357 Montebello 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
358 Lake Forest 0.0 ppb
No 38
B-
359 San Clemente 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
360 Lompoc 0.0 ppb
No 18
C
361 Glendora 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
362 Poway 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
363 Colton 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
364 Los Banos 0.0 ppb
No 29
B
365 Brea 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
366 Cerritos 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
367 Bellflower 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
368 Oakley 0.0 ppb
No 60
D
369 Desert Hot Springs 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
370 Elk Grove 0.0 ppb
No 28
C
371 Adelanto 0.0 ppb
No 13
C
372 Lemoore 0.0 ppb
No 112
D
373 Ridgecrest 0.0 ppb
No 26
A-
374 San Bruno 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
375 Carmichael 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
376 Moorpark 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
377 Beverly Hills 0.0 ppb
No 18
B
378 Loma Linda 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
379 Calexico 0.0 ppb
No 7
B-
380 San Juan Capistrano 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
381 Lebec 0.0 ppb
No 42
C
382 Livermore 0.0 ppb
No 53
B
383 Pacifica 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
384 Marina 0.0 ppb
No 4
A+
385 Julian 0.0 ppb
No 22
D
386 Monrovia 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
387 Sonora 0.0 ppb
No 25
D+
388 Huntington Park 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
389 Fair Oaks 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
390 Foster City 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
391 Paso Robles 0.0 ppb
No 42
F
392 Stanford 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
393 La Crescenta 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
394 Lakeside 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
395 Oroville 0.0 ppb
No 7
C-
396 Lathrop 0.0 ppb
No 44
B
397 Atascadero 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
398 San Andreas 0.0 ppb
No 17
B-
399 Tehachapi 0.0 ppb
No 96
F
400 Ukiah 0.0 ppb
No 14
C+
401 Santa Paula 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
402 La Verne 0.0 ppb
No 6
B+
403 Martinez 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
404 Yucca Valley 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
405 Imperial 0.0 ppb
No 36
C+
406 Granite Bay 0.0 ppb
No 43
B-
407 Belmont 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
408 Altadena 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
409 Atwater 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
410 Norco 0.0 ppb
No 39
F
411 Soledad 0.0 ppb
No 28
C+
412 Phelan 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
413 Vernon 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
414 Eureka 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
415 Wasco 0.0 ppb
No 26
B+
416 Oakdale 0.0 ppb
No 34
C-
417 Olivehurst 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
418 Brawley 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
419 Reedley 0.0 ppb
No 12
B-
420 Galt 0.0 ppb
No 27
B+
421 Sanger 0.0 ppb
No 16
C
422 South Pasadena 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
423 Patterson 0.0 ppb
No 35
B+
424 Shafter 0.0 ppb
No 25
A-
425 Mountain House 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
426 Seal Beach 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
427 Riverbank 0.0 ppb
No 75
D
428 Quartz Hill 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
429 San Fernando 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
430 Arroyo Grande 0.0 ppb
No 93
F
431 El Verano 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
432 Millbrae 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
433 Cudahy 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
434 Marysville 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
435 Temescal Valley 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
436 Port Hueneme 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
437 American Canyon 0.0 ppb
No 15
A-
438 Taft 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
439 Norwalk 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
440 Lomita 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
441 Arvin 0.0 ppb
No 81
C+
442 Lamont 0.0 ppb
No 40
B+
443 Chowchilla 0.0 ppb
No 25
A-
444 Greenfield 0.0 ppb
No 17
B
445 Twentynine Palms 0.0 ppb
No 70
B+
446 Sausalito 0.0 ppb
No 4
A+
447 Coalinga 0.0 ppb
No 267
D
448 Rosamond 0.0 ppb
No 205
F
449 Oak View 0.0 ppb
No 12
B+
450 Kerman 0.0 ppb
No 13
B
451 Crestline 0.0 ppb
No 9
C+
452 Fillmore 0.0 ppb
No 13
B-
453 Orangevale 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
454 Discovery Bay 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
455 El Segundo 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
456 Sutter Creek 0.0 ppb
No 7
B+
457 Blythe 0.0 ppb
No 143
D
458 Cupertino 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
459 Carpinteria 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
460 Red Bluff 0.0 ppb
No 23
F
461 Ripon 0.0 ppb
No 10
A-
462 Fort Irwin 0.0 ppb
No 60
B+
463 Rio Linda 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
464 Livingston 0.0 ppb
No 29
C-
465 Vandenberg Sfb 0.0 ppb
No 8
A
466 Point Mugu 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
467 Parlier 0.0 ppb
No 14
A-
468 Westlake Village 0.0 ppb
No 8
F
469 La Puente 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
470 Mcfarland 0.0 ppb
No 42
C+
471 Morro Bay 0.0 ppb
No 12
A-
472 Jackson 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
473 Jamul 0.0 ppb
No 16
C+
474 Susanville 0.0 ppb
No 34
A-
475 Nipomo 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
476 Clearlake 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
477 Avenal 0.0 ppb
No 35
B
478 Lindsay 0.0 ppb
No 240
F
479 South San Francisco 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
480 Sonoma 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
481 Palomar Mtn Road 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
482 Grover Beach 0.0 ppb
No 34
F
483 Tahoe City 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
484 Big Bear City 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
485 Dixon 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
486 Fortuna 0.0 ppb
No 7
B-
487 Maywood 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
488 Newman 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
489 Hillsborough 0.0 ppb
No 7
A
490 Exeter 0.0 ppb
No 41
B
491 King George 0.0 ppb
No 30
D+
492 Calimesa 0.0 ppb
No 6
B
493 Healdsburg 0.0 ppb
No 12
B+
494 Ojai 0.0 ppb
No 35
C-
495 Bell Gardens 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
496 Mendota 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
497 Cloverdale 0.0 ppb
No 9
B
498 Sierra Madre 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
499 Farmersville 0.0 ppb
No 20
B+
500 Rio Vista 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
501 Willits 0.0 ppb
No 23
C-
502 Royal Oaks 0.0 ppb
No 201
D
503 La Canada Flintridge 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
504 Guerneville 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
505 Bishop 0.0 ppb
No 25
D
506 Winton 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
507 Orange Cove 0.0 ppb
No 10
B+
508 Bermuda Dunes 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
509 Forestville 0.0 ppb
No 14
B-
510 La Canada 0.0 ppb
No 5
B
511 Huron 0.0 ppb
No 69
B-
512 Paradise 0.0 ppb
No 2
A
513 Mammoth Lakes 0.0 ppb
No 24
B
514 Guadalupe 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
515 Pismo Beach 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
516 Firebaugh 0.0 ppb
No 89
D
517 Templeton 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
518 Gonzales 0.0 ppb
No 53
F
519 Santa Ynez 0.0 ppb
No 14
A-
520 Orosi 0.0 ppb
No 6
A+
521 Lancaster 0.0 ppb
No 204
D
522 Dinuba 0.0 ppb
No 24
A-
523 Earlimart 0.0 ppb
No 40
B
524 Fort Bragg 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
525 Castroville 0.0 ppb
No 86
D+
526 Lake Almanor 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
527 Lake Arrowhead 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
528 Woodlake 0.0 ppb
No 14
A+
529 Delhi 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
530 Oceano 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
531 Hughson 0.0 ppb
No 139
D+
532 Represa 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
533 Dos Palos 0.0 ppb
No 43
C
534 Escalon 0.0 ppb
No 13
A
535 Cotati 0.0 ppb
No 9
A-
536 Solvang 0.0 ppb
No 6
B
537 Gridley 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
538 Cottonwood 0.0 ppb
No 7
B
539 Winters 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
540 Castaic 0.0 ppb
No 17
F
541 Heber 0.0 ppb
No 15
A
542 Kelseyville 0.0 ppb
No 36
B-
543 Beale Afb 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
544 China Lake 0.0 ppb
No 8
A
545 Helendale 0.0 ppb
No 22
A-
546 St. Helena 0.0 ppb
No 29
C+
547 Idyllwild 0.0 ppb
No 10
B
548 Hidden Valley Lake 0.0 ppb
No 1
A+
549 Gustine 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
550 Cutler 0.0 ppb
No 20
B
551 Montara 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
552 Rancho Murieta 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
553 Keyes 0.0 ppb
No 60
B+
554 Villa Park 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
555 Weed 0.0 ppb
No 12
B-
556 Williams 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
557 Cambria 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
558 Hilmar 0.0 ppb
No 17
C
559 La Habra Heights 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
560 Buellton 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
561 Carnelian Bay 0.0 ppb
No 15
B
562 Denair 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
563 Murphys 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
564 Visalia 0.0 ppb
No 121
D+
565 Ivanhoe 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
566 San Francisco 0.0 ppb
No 100
F
567 Palomar Mountain 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
568 La Grange 0.0 ppb
No 13
B
569 Midway City 0.0 ppb
No 11
A
570 Planada 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
571 Portola 0.0 ppb
No 71
C-
572 Armona 0.0 ppb
No 71
B+
573 Angels Camp 0.0 ppb
No 21
B+
574 Jamestown 0.0 ppb
No 25
C+
575 Weaverville 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
576 San Joaquin 0.0 ppb
No 13
A
577 Wildomar 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
578 Lockeford 0.0 ppb
No 9
A-
579 Quincy 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
580 Avalon 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
581 Yountville 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
582 Mariposa 0.0 ppb
No 71
C
583 Aptos 0.0 ppb
No 9
A-
584 Los Gatos 0.0 ppb
No 138
D
585 Chester 0.0 ppb
No 9
A
586 Esparto 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
587 Twain Harte 0.0 ppb
No 5
C+
588 Borrego Springs 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
589 Strathmore 0.0 ppb
No 118
D+
590 Angwin 0.0 ppb
No 37
B
591 Moreno Valley 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
592 Rio Dell 0.0 ppb
No 3
A
593 Lucerne Valley 0.0 ppb
No 37
D
594 Avila Beach 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
595 Bloomington 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
596 Boron 0.0 ppb
No 60
B+
597 Littlerock 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
598 Mi Wuk Village 0.0 ppb
No 7
B+
599 Independence 0.0 ppb
No 3
C+
600 Nice 0.0 ppb
No 3
A+
601 Sutter 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
602 Pine Valley 0.0 ppb
No 11
B-
603 Riverdale 0.0 ppb
No 69
B+
604 Arbuckle 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
605 Pixley 0.0 ppb
No 59
B
606 Springville 0.0 ppb
No 82
D+
607 Caruthers 0.0 ppb
No 63
B-
608 Terra Bella 0.0 ppb
No 26
A-
609 Talmage 0.0 ppb
No 2
B-
610 San Miguel 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
611 Gualala 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
612 Middletown 0.0 ppb
No 32
D+
613 Tipton 0.0 ppb
No 15
B+
614 San Juan Bautista 0.0 ppb
No 18
C+
615 Bolinas 0.0 ppb
No 49
A-
616 Cedarpines Park 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
617 Lost Hills 0.0 ppb
No 13
A
618 Clearlake Oak 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
619 Bradley 0.0 ppb
No 43
D+
620 Santa Nella 0.0 ppb
No 15
A
621 Pine Grove 0.0 ppb
No 17
B
622 Westmorland 0.0 ppb
No 20
B
623 Poplar 0.0 ppb
No 5
A
624 Big Pine 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
625 Dunsmuir 0.0 ppb
No 7
B-
626 Yosemite Np 0.0 ppb
No 10
B-
627 Mt. Baldy 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
628 Trona 0.0 ppb
No 21
A
629 Elizabeth Lake 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
630 Linden 0.0 ppb
No 4
A
631 Cold Springs 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
632 Le Grand 0.0 ppb
No 15
B-
633 Seeley 0.0 ppb
No 53
B-
634 Biola 0.0 ppb
No 12
A
635 Richgrove 0.0 ppb
No 24
C
636 Graeagle 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
637 Devore 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
638 Fall River Mills 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
639 Los Alamos 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
640 Downieville 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
641 Del Rey 0.0 ppb
No 2
A+
642 North Edwards 0.0 ppb
No 119
D
643 Forest Falls 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
644 Los Molinos 0.0 ppb
No 50
A-
645 Plymouth 0.0 ppb
No 6
B
646 Grizzly Flats 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
647 Bethel Island 0.0 ppb
No 12
C+
648 Barstow 0.0 ppb
No 66
F
649 Laton 0.0 ppb
No 49
C+
650 Willow Creek 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
651 Green Valley 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
652 Kettleman City 0.0 ppb
No 58
C+
653 Mount Hermon 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
654 Camp Meeker 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
655 Sea Ranch 0.0 ppb
No 4
B
656 Dillon Beach 0.0 ppb
No 32
B
657 Laytonville 0.0 ppb
No 13
A
658 Waterford 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
659 Platina 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
660 Saratoga 0.0 ppb
No 7
B+
661 Sultana 0.0 ppb
No 73
C-
662 Baker 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
663 Loyalton 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
664 North Highlands 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
665 San Martin 0.0 ppb
No 11
A-
666 Scotia 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
667 Dorris 0.0 ppb
No 4
B+
668 Madison 0.0 ppb
No 6
D+
669 Alpaugh 0.0 ppb
No 48
B
670 Shaver Lake 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
671 Lake Arrowhead Ca 92352 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
672 Llano 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
673 Clio 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
674 Tranquillity 0.0 ppb
No 37
B
675 Monterey 0.0 ppb
No 3
B-
676 Eldorado Hills 0.0 ppb
No 8
B
677 Daggett 0.0 ppb
No 34
D+
678 West Hollywood 0.0 ppb
No 17
B-
679 Orleans 0.0 ppb
No 28
C+
680 Clayton 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
681 Gasquet 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
682 Mountain Pass 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
683 Bear Valley 0.0 ppb
No 22
B+
684 Isleton 0.0 ppb
No 52
C+
685 Ducor 0.0 ppb
No 10
A-
686 Los Altos 0.0 ppb
No 13
B
687 Warsaw 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
688 Stinson Beach 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
689 San Ardo 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
690 River Pines 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
691 Crows Landing 0.0 ppb
No 3
B
692 Jacumba 0.0 ppb
No 0
A+
693 Crowley Lake 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
694 Ludlow 0.0 ppb
No 82
D+
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in California

Is lead in California tap water a concern?

Yes — 8 of 694 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: San Simeon (45.0 ppb), Hayfork (44.1 ppb), La Honda (25.6 ppb), Green Valley Lake (24.9 ppb), Lakeport (24.0 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 DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaQCRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
← Lead contamination overview Explore California water quality → National Lead map →