What was found in Tehachapi's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 688000 µg/L 6880% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 8334.1 µg/L 83% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15000 µg/L — QVWD-WEST & EAST COMBINED WATER SYSTEM · 221 people · 2019 | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 465 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7470 µg/L — QVWD-WEST & EAST COMBINED WATER SYSTEM · 221 people · 2018 | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 120 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 237 µg/L — BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 123.509 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: STALLION SPRINGS CSD · 4,910 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 11.8 µg/L 118% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 94.1 µg/L — QVWD-WEST & EAST COMBINED WATER SYSTEM · 221 people · 2018 | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 7.45 µg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 65.6 µg/L — BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 56 µg/L 4.3% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 39.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2024 | 3/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromoform | 2.675 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 36 µg/L — PINON VALLEY WATER COMPANY · 112 people · 2019 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.49 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 33.9 µg/L — BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 9/12 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 14.7957 µg/L 49% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 29.8 µg/L — BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 3.175 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.5 µg/L — BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.95 µg/L — BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 9/12 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 14.605 µg/L 97% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Highest in the city: BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 2.1 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.35 µg/L — BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 10/12 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 0.8370 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.845 µg/L — BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 5/12 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 12 µg/L 200% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: QVWD-WEST & EAST COMBINED WATER SYSTEM · 221 people · 2018 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 10.95 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.92 µg/L — BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.31 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CCI - TEHACHAPI · 2,993 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 5.12 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.81 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: CHANAC CREEK MUTUAL WATER COMPANY · 240 people · 2019 | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 3.125 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 1.01 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BEAR VALLEY CSD · 5,592 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.2500 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 0.4300 µg/L — TEHACHAPI, CITY OF · 9,094 people · 2018 | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| PFOA | 0.0186 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2024 | 2/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0140 mg/L — A.F.P. MUTUAL WATER COMPANY · 710 people · 2024 | 12/12 | LCR |
| Pfpea | 0.0093 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2024 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0078 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2024 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0073 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2024 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0055 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2024 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0055 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2024 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0037 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLDEN HILLS CSD · 9,857 people · 2024 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Tehachapi
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GOLDEN HILLS CSD | 9,857 |
| TEHACHAPI, CITY OF | 9,094 |
| BEAR VALLEY CSD | 5,592 |
| STALLION SPRINGS CSD | 4,910 |
| CCI - TEHACHAPI | 2,993 |
| A.F.P. MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 710 |
| WILLOW SPRINGS MOBILE HOME PARK | 275 |
| CHANAC CREEK MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 240 |
| QVWD-WEST & EAST COMBINED WATER SYSTEM | 221 |
| WEST TEHACHAPI MUTUAL | 150 |
| PINON VALLEY WATER COMPANY | 112 |
| BRITE LAKE MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 89 |
Frequently asked questions about Tehachapi tap water
Is Tehachapi tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 34 contaminants in the water serving Tehachapi. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Tehachapi?
12 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Tehachapi, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Tehachapi's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Tehachapi include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, Nitrite. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.