Is Fullerton, CA tap water safe?

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

City of Fullerton, 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 Fullerton. The largest, City of Fullerton, serves 140,054 people, and 2 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of Fullerton

140,054 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID CA3010010

Buys treated water from Golden State Water Company – Placentia/Yorba Linda, Metropolitan Water District of SO. Cal., Suburban Water Systems-la Mirada, City of Anaheim, City of Brea.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	10.1 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	12.2 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	5.25 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 95% of the California systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 91% of the California systems EPA tested.

Lead: 1.5 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: 1

Full City of Fullerton 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.

Fullerton homes and lead pipes

71%

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

built before 1950 (California 14%)

48%

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. 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 Fullerton city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Fullerton

Suburban Water Systems-la Mirada
57,240 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS above limit · PFHxS detected · Lithium above screening level
California American Water – Baldwin Hills
20,724 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
Lithium above screening level

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
La Habra 3 mi Suburban Water Systems-Whittier	Suburban Water Systems-Whittier	Above limit	0 ppb
Placentia 4 mi Western Municipal Water District	Western Municipal Water District	None above limits	1.3 ppb
Brea 5 mi Yorba Linda Water District	Yorba Linda Water District	None above limits	0 ppb
La Mirada 5 mi Suburban Water Systems-Whittier	Suburban Water Systems-Whittier	Above limit	0 ppb
Buena Park 5 mi City of Buena Park	City of Buena Park	Above limit	0 ppb
Stanton 7 mi Golden State Water Company – West Orange County	Golden State Water Company – West Orange County	Above limit	2.2 ppb

Fullerton ZIP codes (4)

92831
92832
92833
92835

Questions

Is Fullerton tap water safe to drink?

City of Fullerton had 1 health-based violation 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 Fullerton, CA?

3 public water systems serve parts of Fullerton. The largest is City of Fullerton (140,054 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Fullerton tap water have PFAS?

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

Do Fullerton homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 71% of Fullerton 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 Fullerton'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.