Is San Bernardino, CA tap water safe?

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

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of San Bernardino. 4 PFAS were detected below the limits.

4 public water systems serve parts of San Bernardino. The largest, City of San Bernardino, serves 214,665 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of San Bernardino

214,665 people · Groundwater · EPA ID CA3610039

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Detected, below limit	2 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.

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

Full City of San Bernardino 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.

San Bernardino homes and lead pipes

60%

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

17%

built before 1950 (California 14%)

50%

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 San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino
City of San Bernardino 214,665 people	92369, 92401, 92404, 92405, 92407, 92408, 92410, 92411
Glen Helen Water System 5,900 people	92415

Other water systems serving San Bernardino

East Valley Water District
108,600 people · Surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS above limit · Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) violations · PFHxS detected
Muscoy Mutual Water Company No. 1
13,000 people · Groundwater · California · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits
Glen Helen Water System
5,900 people · Groundwater · California · reported ZIPs here
PFHxS detectedAlso: Lithium above screening level

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Rialto 6 mi West Valley Water District	West Valley Water District	None above limits	0 ppb
Colton 6 mi West Valley Water District	West Valley Water District	None above limits	0 ppb
Loma Linda 7 mi City of Loma Linda	City of Loma Linda	None above limits	0 ppb
Highland 8 mi East Valley Water District	East Valley Water District	Above limit	0 ppb
Redlands 9 mi Redlands City Municipal Utility District – Water Division	Redlands City Municipal Utility District – Water Division	Above limit	2.9 ppb
Fontana 10 mi San Gabriel Valley Water Company – Fontana	San Gabriel Valley Water Company – Fontana	None above limits	0 ppb

Questions

Is San Bernardino tap water safe to drink?

City of San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino, CA?

4 public water systems serve parts of San Bernardino. The largest is City of San Bernardino (214,665 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does San Bernardino tap water have PFAS?

City of San Bernardino had 4 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do San Bernardino homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 60% of San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino'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.