Is Brea, CA tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Yorba Linda Water District. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.
2 public water systems serve parts of Brea. The largest, Yorba Linda Water District, serves 84,292 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Yorba Linda Water District
84,292 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID CA3010037
Buys treated water from City of Brea, City of Anaheim, Metropolitan Water District of SO. Cal..
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
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.
Lead: 0 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
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.
Brea homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. 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 Brea 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 Brea |
|---|---|
| Yorba Linda Water District 84,292 people | 92823 |
| City of Brea 47,454 people | 92821 |
Other water systems serving Brea
- City of Brea47,454 people · Purchased surface water · California · lists this cityLithium above screening level
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Placentia 3 mi Western Municipal Water District | None above limits | 1.3 ppb |
| Fullerton 5 mi City of Fullerton | Above limit | 1.5 ppb |
| La Habra 5 mi Suburban Water Systems-Whittier | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Yorba Linda 6 mi Yorba Linda Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Diamond Bar 6 mi Walnut Valley Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Walnut 8 mi Suburban Water Systems-San Jose | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Questions
Is Brea tap water safe to drink?
Yorba Linda Water District has had no health-based violations since 2016. 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 Brea, CA?
2 public water systems serve parts of Brea. The largest is Yorba Linda Water District (84,292 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Brea tap water have PFAS?
Yorba Linda Water District had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Brea homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 55% of Brea 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. Yorba Linda Water District's service line inventory says what your line is made of. 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.