Is Burlingame, 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 City of Burlingame.
City of Burlingame supplies Burlingame (32,453 people).
Water system
City of Burlingame
32,453 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID CA4110003
Buys treated water from San Francisco Regional Water System, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission City Distribution Division.
| 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: 6.3 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, 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.
Burlingame 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 Burlingame city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| San Mateo 4 mi California Water Service – San Mateo | None above limits | 4.4 ppb |
| San Bruno 4 mi California Water Service – South San Francisco | None above limits | 4.1 ppb |
| South San Francisco 5 mi California Water Service – South San Francisco | None above limits | 4.1 ppb |
| Pacifica 6 mi North Coast County Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Foster City 6 mi California Water Service – San Mateo | None above limits | 4.4 ppb |
| Belmont 6 mi California Water Service – San Mateo | None above limits | 4.4 ppb |
Burlingame ZIP codes (1)
- 94010
Questions
Is Burlingame tap water safe to drink?
City of Burlingame 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 Burlingame, CA?
City of Burlingame, which serves 32,453 people.
Does Burlingame tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Burlingame had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Burlingame homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 79% of Burlingame 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. City of Burlingame'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.