Is Bakersfield, CA tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

California Water Service – Bakersfield, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA, PFOS) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

3 public water systems serve parts of Bakersfield. The largest, California Water Service – Bakersfield, serves 268,129 people, and 2 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

California Water Service – Bakersfield

268,129 people · Surface water · EPA ID CA1510003

Buys treated water from Kern County Water Agency.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	4.55 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	13.5 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	6.65 ppt	10 ppt	Detected, below limit
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 87% of the California systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 92% of the California systems EPA tested.

Lead: 2.8 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full California Water Service – Bakersfield results

Across California, 129 of 691 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 26 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. California results.

Bakersfield homes and lead pipes

35%

of homes built before 1980 (California 56%, US 50%)

built before 1950 (California 14%)

39%

of households rent (California 44%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. California Water Service – Bakersfield's service line inventory lists 0 lead lines and 0 galvanized lines that need replacing (as of 2026-04-21). Look up your address. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Bakersfield city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Bakersfield
California Water Service – Bakersfield 268,129 people	93301, 93304, 93305, 93306, 93309
City of Bakersfield 171,108 people	93312

Other water systems serving Bakersfield

City of Bakersfield
171,108 people · Purchased surface water · California · lists this city
PFOS above limitAlso: PFHxS detected · PFNA detected
Vaughn Water Company Inc
37,189 people · Groundwater · California · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Wasco 25 mi City of Wasco	City of Wasco	None above limits	0 ppb
Delano 31 mi City of Delano	City of Delano	None above limits	0 ppb
Porterville 49 mi City of Porterville	City of Porterville	Above limit	0 ppb
Tulare 61 mi City of Tulare	City of Tulare	None above limits	0 ppb
Lancaster 67 mi Los Angeles County Waterworks District 40 Region 4 & 34 Lancaster	Los Angeles County Waterworks District 40 Region 4 & 34 Lancaster	None above limits	1.8 ppb
Santa Paula 69 mi City of Santa Paula	City of Santa Paula	None above limits	0 ppb

Questions

Is Bakersfield tap water safe to drink?

California Water Service – Bakersfield has had no health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Bakersfield, CA?

3 public water systems serve parts of Bakersfield. The largest is California Water Service – Bakersfield (268,129 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Bakersfield tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA and PFOS at California Water Service – Bakersfield. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do Bakersfield homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 35% of Bakersfield homes as built before 1980 (California: 56%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. California Water Service – Bakersfield's service line inventory lists 0 lead lines. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.