What was found in California's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 629 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2302 µg/L — HOLLAND FOREST · 139 people · 2019 | 28/28 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 65.2 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 67.8 µg/L — BIRCH MANOR · 272 people · 2019 | 18/28 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 10.114 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 26.205 µg/L — PINEY POINT LANDINGS · 239 people · 2017 | 28/28 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 5.56 µg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19.779 µg/L — CHARLOTTE HALL · 615 people · 2019 | 26/28 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 12.56 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2016
Highest in the city: 16.4 pCi/L — FOX MEADOW · 128 people · 2012 | 20/28 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 11 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2019 | 5/28 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 7.575 µg/L 76% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.55 µg/L — WILDERNESS RUN · 511 people · 2019 | 18/28 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 3.26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.22 µg/L — PINEY POINT · 672 people · 2016 | 28/28 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 6.263 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: GRANDVIEW HAVEN · 269 people · 2017 | 6/28 | SYR4 |
| Endrin | 4.66 µg/L 233% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 2 µg/L Highest in the city: PINEY POINT · 672 people · 2018 | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 2.66 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.245 µg/L — HEARTS DESIRE · 65 people · 2014 | 28/28 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.1 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: PINEY POINT LANDINGS · 239 people · 2018 | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.404 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 3.1 µg/L — HEARTS DESIRE · 65 people · 2014 | 20/28 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3 pCi/L 20% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: WILD GOOSE CREST SUBDIVISION · 65 people · 2019 | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.164 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2019 | 23/28 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.05 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: KING & KENNEDY · 169 people · 2018 | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.575 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 1.9 µg/L — FENWICK MANOR · 234 people · 2014 | 10/28 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.147 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2016 | 2/28 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1 pCi/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2012 | 2/28 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.8000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: GRANDVIEW HAVEN · 269 people · 2017 | 3/28 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.5400 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: FOX MEADOW · 128 people · 2016 | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.1400 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: PINEY POINT · 672 people · 2018 | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.0200 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: CHARLOTTE HALL · 615 people · 2015 | 1/28 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: LEXINGTON PARK · 43,030 people · 2020 | 28/28 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving California
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LEXINGTON PARK | 43,030 |
| COUNTRY LAKES | 3,016 |
| CEDAR COVE | 2,728 |
| WICOMICO SHORES | 1,262 |
| GREENBRIER | 1,161 |
| BRETON BAY | 1,012 |
| HUNTING QUARTERS | 715 |
| ROLLING ACRES | 699 |
| PINEY POINT | 672 |
| ST. CLEMENTS SHORES | 620 |
| CHARLOTTE HALL | 615 |
| FORREST FARM SUBDIVISION | 577 |
| LAUREL RIDGE | 560 |
| PERSIMMON HILLS | 514 |
| WILDERNESS RUN | 511 |
| BIRCH MANOR | 272 |
| GRANDVIEW HAVEN | 269 |
| PINEY POINT LANDINGS | 239 |
| VILLAGES AT LEONARDTOWN | 239 |
| FENWICK MANOR | 234 |
| LEONARDTOWN FARM | 193 |
| SOUTHGATE | 188 |
| KING & KENNEDY | 169 |
| HOLLAND FOREST | 139 |
| FOX MEADOW | 128 |
| HEARTS DESIRE | 65 |
| WILD GOOSE CREST SUBDIVISION | 65 |
| MULBERRY SOUTH | 65 |
Frequently asked questions about California tap water
Is California tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving California. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve California?
28 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for California, Maryland to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in California's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in California include Fluoride, Barium, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Gross Beta Particle Activity. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.