Is Dana Point, 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 Moulton Niguel Water District.
3 public water systems serve parts of Dana Point. The largest, Moulton Niguel Water District, serves 168,315 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Moulton Niguel Water District
168,315 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID CA3010073
Buys treated water from Santa Margarita Water District, South Coast Water District, Irvine Ranch Water District, Joint Regional Water Supply System, Metropolitan Water District of SO. Cal., El Toro Water District.
| 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.
Dana Point 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 Dana Point 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 Dana Point |
|---|---|
| Moulton Niguel Water District 168,315 people | 92629 |
| South Coast Water District 41,194 people | 92624 |
Other water systems serving Dana Point
- South Coast Water District41,194 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs hereLithium above screening level
- Kohala Ranch Water Company850 people · Groundwater · Hawaii · reported ZIPs hereLead near 2027 level
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan Capistrano 3 mi Moulton Niguel Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Laguna Niguel 4 mi Moulton Niguel Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| San Clemente 5 mi Santa Margarita Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Aliso Viejo 7 mi Moulton Niguel Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Laguna Hills 8 mi Moulton Niguel Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Mission Viejo 9 mi Moulton Niguel Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Questions
Is Dana Point tap water safe to drink?
Moulton Niguel 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 Dana Point, CA?
3 public water systems serve parts of Dana Point. The largest is Moulton Niguel Water District (168,315 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Dana Point tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Moulton Niguel Water District 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 Dana Point homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 53% of Dana Point 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. Moulton Niguel 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.