Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
PORTERVILLE, CITY OF
PORTERVILLE, CITY OF delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 63,487 residents in PORTERVILLE, California using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 559-782-7580.
Is PORTERVILLE tap water safe to drink?
PORTERVILLE, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 63,487 residents in PORTERVILLE, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 17 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromoacetic acid, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Uranium, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Bromoform. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for PORTERVILLE, CITY OF (system ID CA5410010) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Missed reporting | 10/17/2024 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Required treatment not met | 10/17/2024 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for PORTERVILLE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for PORTERVILLE, CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 36.2 ppb, 362x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.233 ppt, 233x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.794 ppb, 199x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Contact PORTERVILLE, CITY OF
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for PORTERVILLE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 48/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.233 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 233× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.794 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 199× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.546 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.65 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 26× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.7 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 19× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.417 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.786 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
3.84 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 8.9× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
1.25 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 8.3× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.724 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 8.0× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.706 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.1× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.85 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 6.2× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.294 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.198 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.3× over |
| 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) Other |
0.00538 ppb | 0.0017 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | 3.2× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.588 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Vanadium Other |
4.82 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
33.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0524 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0588 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
80.9 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.55 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.3 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00387 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.316 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.283 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.517 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.214 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.188 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.264 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1-Butanol Other |
0.289 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.325 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.294 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.119 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
2.02 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.083 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
PORTERVILLE, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Tulare County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for PORTERVILLE water
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