Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Escondido, CA tap water
31 contaminants were measured in the Escondido, CA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 31
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Lithium
- Service area
- CA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in Escondido, CA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
Lithium
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (76.59999999999991 mg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Escondido, CA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 2 sources.
Source
- LAKE DIXON
- LAKE WOHLFORD
Treatment
- FILTRATION PLANT EFFLUENT
- WTP INFLUENT
Distribution
Also buys water from RINCON DEL DIABLO MWD (ID-1), SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
2 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Escondido, CA
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
GROSS BETA worst: 2018 | 6.91 mrem/yr 1.7× | 4 mrem/yr | '12'15'18 |
TTHM worst: 2017 | 0.098 mg/L 1.2× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2017 | 0.038 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLORITE worst: 2019 | 0.43 mg/L within | 1 mg/L | '18'19 |
ARSENIC worst: 2018 | 0.0027 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.01 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2016 | 1 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2015 | 0.14 mg/L within near national p90 | 2 mg/L | '14'15'16'18 |
NITRATE worst: 2017 | 0.5 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'17 |
URANIUM worst: 2015 | 0.00551 ug/L within below national p90 | 30 ug/L | '12'15'18 |
XYLENES TOTAL worst: 2014 | 0.00022 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '14 |
MCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0029 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'19 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.007 mg/L below national p90 | — | '12 |
DBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0058 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0099 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0049 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'19 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0078 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.017 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0075 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.013 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.02 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorateA byproduct that can form during disinfection, especially when hypochlorite solutions degrade. | 460 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 800 ug/LNL | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 814 uS/cmAverageSystem-wide | 1600 uS/cmMCL | Within the limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 498 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 1000 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ColorA measure of visible tint in the water. | 1AverageSystem-wide | 15MCL | Within the limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.3 %AverageSystem-wide | 95 %MCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 118 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Bicarbonate | 146 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 188 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8.11AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.8 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 3.3 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BoronA naturally occurring element from rock and soil. | 0.11 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 1 mg/LNL | Within the limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 2.1 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 50 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detected ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 15 ug/LAction level | None detected |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 46 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 17 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 4.6 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SilicaA naturally occurring compound from sand and rock. | 9.2 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 81 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0.1 %AverageSystem-wide | 5 %MCL | Within the limit |
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0AverageSystem-wide | 0MCL | None detected |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 3 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Escondido, CA's water
+Is Escondido, CA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Escondido, CA water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Lithium. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Escondido, CA tap water?
31 contaminants were measured in Escondido, CA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and disinfection byproducts. 20 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Escondido, CA tap water?
One contaminant in Escondido, CA's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: Lithium (2.6× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Escondido, CA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Lithium, at 2.6× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Escondido, CA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Escondido, CA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.