What was found in Valley Center'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 | 4232.999999999995 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7880 µg/L — Rincon Paradise Creek · 305 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 404.49999999999994 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 660.5 µg/L — San Pasqual District A · 1,225 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 46.349999999999994 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 346.7 µg/L — Rincon Paradise Creek · 305 people · 2017 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 150 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2018 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 75.15 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 110 µg/L — Rincon Paradise Creek · 305 people · 2018 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 50.8 µg/L 5.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: San Pasqual District A · 1,225 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 5.994999999999999 pCi/L 40% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 36.29 pCi/L — San Pasqual District A · 1,225 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 5.7961 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 35.70784999999998 µg/L — San Pasqual District A · 1,225 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 23.06 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.1025 µg/L — San Pasqual District B · 705 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 15 µg/L 150% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: San Pasqual District A · 1,225 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 15 µg/L 750% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 2 µg/L Highest in the city: San Pasqual District A · 1,225 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 9.0175 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.325 µg/L — San Pasqual District B · 705 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 4 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 10.5 µg/L — Rincon Paradise Creek · 305 people · 2017 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.7 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: Turner Trailer Park · 70 people · 2017 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 2.59 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BLYTHE MOBILE HOME ESTATES · 35 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BLYTHE MOBILE HOME ESTATES · 35 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: BLYTHE MOBILE HOME ESTATES · 35 people · 2017 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.2400 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: Rincon Paradise Creek · 305 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.0089 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0050 mg/L 33% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2025 | 7/7 | LCR |
| Pfpea | 0.0050 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0034 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: Rincon Northern · 7,003 people · 2024 | 1/7 | 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 Valley Center
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| Rincon Northern | 7,003 |
| San Pasqual District A | 1,225 |
| San Pasqual District B | 705 |
| Rincon Paradise Creek | 305 |
| Turner Trailer Park | 70 |
| Duro Water System | 35 |
| BLYTHE MOBILE HOME ESTATES | 35 |
Frequently asked questions about Valley Center tap water
Is Valley Center tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Valley Center. 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 Valley Center?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Valley Center, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Valley Center's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Valley Center include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Nitrite, Barium. 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.