Is Riverbank, CA tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
City of Riverbank had lead above the action level in some homes sampled.
Is it an emergency? No: these findings are about longer-term exposure, 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.
City of Riverbank supplies Riverbank (25,625 people).
Water system
City of Riverbank
25,625 people · Groundwater · EPA ID CA5010018
| 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: 21 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Above action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1
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.
Riverbank 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 Riverbank city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto 7 mi City of Modesto | Above limit | 12 ppb |
| Ceres 9 mi City of Ceres | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Turlock 16 mi City of Turlock | None above limits | 0.97 ppb |
| Manteca 16 mi City of Manteca | Above limit | 0.4 ppb |
| Patterson 21 mi City of Patterson | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Lathrop 21 mi City of Lathrop | Above limit | 0 ppb |
Riverbank ZIP codes (1)
- 95367
Questions
Is Riverbank tap water safe to drink?
City of Riverbank had 1 health-based violation 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 Riverbank, CA?
City of Riverbank, which serves 25,625 people.
Does Riverbank tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Riverbank 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 Riverbank homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 27% of Riverbank 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 Riverbank'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.