California – The Golden State – Water Quality Report 2025: PFAS Testing, Infrastructure Concerns & Safety across your state
California’s water infrastructure serves approximately 40 million residents across diverse geographical regions, from the fog-shrouded Bay Area to the desert landscapes of Southern California. The state operates through a complex network of over 3,000 community water systems, ranging from massive utilities like Los Angeles Department of Water and Power serving over 4 million customers, to smaller rural systems providing essential services to disadvantaged communities. California’s water sources include the Colorado River, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Sierra Nevada snowpack, and numerous reservoirs and groundwater aquifers that supply both urban centers and agricultural areas.
Despite extensive water resources, California faces unprecedented infrastructure challenges. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2025 Infrastructure Report Card, California’s dams received a C- grade, highlighting aging systems and seismic vulnerabilities. The state has emerged as a national leader in PFAS testing and remediation, with comprehensive monitoring programs revealing water sources serving up to 25 million Californians affected by “forever chemical” contamination. California’s proactive approach to water quality improvement is demonstrated through groundbreaking legislation banning PFAS in consumer products and over $11.4 billion in PFAS settlement funds now available for qualified public water systems to implement treatment upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
California Water Quality: Current Status (2024-2025)
Statewide Compliance and Testing
- Overall Compliance: The majority of California’s 3,000 community water systems meet federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, though comprehensive PFAS monitoring reveals contamination affecting water sources serving up to 25 million Californians.
- PFAS Leadership: California has emerged as a national leader in PFAS testing and remediation, with mandatory monitoring for all public water systems and comprehensive legislation banning PFAS in consumer products by 2025.
- Settlement Funding: Over $11.4 billion in PFAS settlement funds from 3M and DuPont are now available for qualified California public water systems to implement treatment upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
Major Water Sources and Challenges
- State Water Project: Serves 27 million Californians through 29 public water agencies, with 2025 allocation forecast at 20% of requested supplies due to drought conditions and climate variability.
- Colorado River System: Critical supply for Southern California facing ongoing drought concerns, with Lake Powell and Lake Mead at approximately 35% capacity as of March 2025.
- Dam Safety Concerns: California has over 1,476 dams with 70% older than 50 years, receiving a C- grade from ASCE primarily due to aging infrastructure and seismic vulnerabilities.
Emerging Contaminant Response
- PFAS Regulation Implementation: California is implementing EPA’s new drinking water standards for six PFAS substances, with water systems required to complete initial monitoring by 2027 and achieve compliance by 2029.
- Hexavalent Chromium Standards: In April 2024, California became the first state to adopt a maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per billion for hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen.
- Comprehensive Product Bans: California has passed groundbreaking legislation banning PFAS in firefighting foam, food packaging, textiles, cosmetics, and juvenile products, with comprehensive product bans expanding in 2025.
Small and Disadvantaged Communities
- SAFER Program: California’s Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience program provides $130 million annually for 10 years to help small water systems in low-income communities operate effectively.
- Disproportionate Impact: PFAS pollution is more prevalent in state-identified disadvantaged communities, with up to 8.9 million Californians in these communities potentially impacted by contaminated water sources.
- Consolidation Efforts: The state is pursuing voluntary and mandatory consolidation of failing water systems to ensure sustainable service delivery and compliance with drinking water standards.
Looking Forward: 2025-2030
California’s water quality landscape is undergoing unprecedented transformation as the state implements the most comprehensive PFAS regulations in the nation while addressing climate change impacts including extreme drought and flood cycles. The Delta Tunnel project continues advancing through permitting processes to safeguard water supply against climate change, sea-level rise, and seismic risks. However, successful water quality improvements will require continued collaboration between state regulators, water utilities, and communities to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water while managing the challenges of aging infrastructure, emerging contaminants, and climate adaptation in the world’s fifth-largest economy.
Recommendations for California Residents
Know Your Water Source
Contact your water utility to request annual Consumer Confidence Reports and ask about PFAS testing results. Use the State Water Resources Control Board’s online tools to access your local system’s testing data and compliance status.
Support Infrastructure Investment
Stay informed about local water infrastructure needs and support utility investments in climate resilience and PFAS treatment. Participate in public meetings when utilities discuss rate structures and infrastructure modernization plans.
Consider PFAS-Certified Filtration
For areas with detected PFAS contamination, consider NSF-certified activated carbon or reverse osmosis filters specifically tested for PFAS removal. These provide additional protection while utilities implement treatment systems.
Report Water Quality Concerns
Contact your local water utility immediately for taste, odor, or color concerns. Report suspected contamination to the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water for investigation and regulatory response.
Practice Water Conservation
Support California’s water sustainability through conservation measures like drought-resistant landscaping, efficient irrigation, and low-flow fixtures. Conservation reduces demand on stressed water supplies and helps utilities maintain system reliability.
California Cities We Cover
Frequently Asked Questions
Is California’s tap water safe to drink?
Most of California’s 3,000 community water systems meet federal drinking water standards and are safe for consumption. However, PFAS contamination affects water sources serving up to 25 million Californians.
The State Water Resources Control Board requires comprehensive testing across all public water systems and has emerged as a national leader in PFAS monitoring and regulation. Water utilities are implementing advanced treatment technologies, and California has received over $11.4 billion in PFAS settlement funds to address emerging contaminants and infrastructure needs. Residents should review their utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report to understand local water quality conditions and any treatment measures in place.
What are PFAS chemicals and why are they a concern in California?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic “forever chemicals” that persist in the environment and human body, earning widespread concern for their health impacts.
California has extensive PFAS contamination due to decades of industrial use, military activities, and consumer products. These chemicals have been linked to cancer, liver damage, immune system effects, and developmental issues. The EPA finalized new drinking water standards in 2024, and California has been proactive in banning PFAS in firefighting foam, food packaging, textiles, and cosmetics. The state leads the nation in comprehensive PFAS testing and has secured billions in settlement funds to help water systems implement treatment technologies.
How can I find out about my local water quality?
California residents can access comprehensive water quality information through several resources:
• Consumer Confidence Reports: Contact your water utility directly for their annual water quality report, which details all testing results, violations, and treatment processes
• State Water Resources Control Board: Visit the Division of Drinking Water’s online database to access testing results and compliance information for your local water system
• PFAS Testing Data: California requires all public water systems to test for PFAS and makes results publicly available through state databases and mapping tools
• EWG Tap Water Database: Use your zip code to search for contaminants detected in your local water system and get filter recommendations
Why does California have water infrastructure challenges?
California’s water infrastructure faces several interconnected challenges:
Climate Change: Extreme weather swings between drought and flooding, declining snowpack, and rising temperatures stress the state’s water supply systems
Aging Infrastructure: Over 70% of California’s dams are more than 50 years old, and many water systems need modernization to meet current standards and seismic safety requirements
Emerging Contaminants: PFAS and other “forever chemicals” require expensive treatment technologies that strain utility budgets, particularly for smaller systems
Funding Constraints: California spends about $37 billion annually on water infrastructure, but constitutional amendments limit local funding options and create fiscal challenges for comprehensive improvements
The state is addressing these challenges through innovative programs like SAFER, comprehensive water planning, and billions in federal and settlement funding for infrastructure improvements.
Contaminants of Concern
PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
Source: Industrial manufacturing, military firefighting foam use at bases and airports, semiconductor production, consumer products including non-stick cookware and stain-resistant textiles
Health Effects: Linked to kidney and testicular cancer, liver damage, immune system suppression, high cholesterol, and developmental effects in children
Current Status: Water sources serving up to 25 million Californians are affected by PFAS contamination, with disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities EPA Limits: 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS individually, with hazard index for other PFAS compounds
Hexavalent Chromium
Source: Industrial processes including metal plating, leather tanning, and wood preservation; naturally occurring in some groundwater areas throughout California
Health Effects: Known human carcinogen linked to lung cancer when inhaled; potential stomach cancer risk from drinking water exposure over long periods
Current Status: California became the first state to regulate hexavalent chromium in drinking water with a 10 ppb maximum contaminant level effective October 2024 Regulatory Response: State Water Resources Control Board oversight and treatment requirements for affected water systems
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