Is Poway, 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 Poway.
City of Poway supplies Poway (49,888 people).
Water system
City of Poway
49,888 people · Surface water · EPA ID CA3710015
Buys treated water from San Diego County Water Authority.
| 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 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.
Poway homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Poway city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Santee 9 mi Helix Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Escondido 10 mi City of Escondido | None above limits | 1.1 ppb |
| San Marcos 13 mi Vista Irrigation District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| El Cajon 13 mi Helix Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| San Diego 14 mi City of San Diego | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Encinitas 15 mi Olivenhain Municipal Water District | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Poway ZIP codes (1)
- 92064
Questions
Is Poway tap water safe to drink?
City of Poway 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 Poway, CA?
City of Poway, which serves 49,888 people.
Does Poway tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Poway 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 Poway homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 56% of Poway 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 Poway'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.