PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS 090600147

Rincon Northern

Valley Center, EPA Region 9 — Tribal Water Systems 92082 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 7,003 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

7,003
People served
285
EPA violations
4
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 285 drinking-water violations at Rincon Northern, 1% of them health-based, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

285
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
7,003
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Rincon Northern

Rincon Northern is a native american-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 7,003 residents in Valley Center, EPA Region 9 — Tribal Water Systems through 183 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 285 total violations for this system , of which 4 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 82 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2016.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 17 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 8.9 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

EPA Region 9 — Tribal Water Systems has thousands of regulated public water systems tracked by EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

5 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
7,003
Total Violations
285
Health-Based Violations
4
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Native American
Connections
183
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
4
Monitoring Violations
82
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 17 2007
Nitrate MR 6 2005
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 2005
Pentachlorophenol MR 3 2001
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 3 2001
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 3 2001
Nitrite MR 2 1998
Asbestos MR 2 1998
LASSO MR 2 1998
2,4,5-TP MR 2 2001
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 2 1998
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2004
Atrazine MR 2 1998
Carbofuran MR 2 1998
Chlordane MR 2 2001
Arsenic MR 1 1998
Barium MR 1 1998
CYANIDE MR 1 1998
Mercury MR 1 1998
Thallium, Total MR 1 1998
Methoxychlor MR 1 1998
Toxaphene MR 1 1998
Dalapon MR 1 1998
Diquat MR 1 1998
Endothall MR 1 1998
Glyphosate MR 1 1998
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 1 1998
Simazine MR 1 1998
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 1 1998
Dinoseb MR 1 1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 5 of 174 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
8:2 FTS 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/14/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/14/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/14/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/14/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/14/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/14/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/14/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/14/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/14/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/14/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/14/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/14/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Rincon Northern.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID 090600147 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

EPA Region 9 — Tribal Water Systems Drinking Water Authority

EPA Region 9 — Tribal Water Systems's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find 09 regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2016 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 1 SDWIS / 090600147 / 8000
2013 E. COLI MR 1 SDWIS / 090600147 / 3014
2007 Coliform (TCR) MR 17 SDWIS / 090600147 / 3100
2005 Nitrate MR 6 SDWIS / 090600147 / 1040
2005 Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 SDWIS / 090600147 / 3100
2004 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / 090600147 / 7000
2001 Pentachlorophenol MR 3 SDWIS / 090600147 / 2326
2001 ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 3 SDWIS / 090600147 / 2946
2001 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 3 SDWIS / 090600147 / 2931
2001 2,4,5-TP MR 2 SDWIS / 090600147 / 2110
2001 Chlordane MR 2 SDWIS / 090600147 / 2959
1998 Nitrite MR 2 SDWIS / 090600147 / 1041
1998 Asbestos MR 2 SDWIS / 090600147 / 1094
1998 LASSO MR 2 SDWIS / 090600147 / 2051
1998 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 2 SDWIS / 090600147 / 4000

How Rincon Northern Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Rincon Northern EPA Region 9 — Tribal Water Systems avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 285 - SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 4 - Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 5 compounds - EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 7,003 - Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across all regulated public water systems in EPA Region 9 — Tribal Water Systems.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rincon Northern water safe to drink?
Rincon Northern (PWS ID: 090600147) has 285 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 7,003 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Rincon Northern serve?
Rincon Northern serves 7,003 people in Valley Center, EPA Region 9 — Tribal Water Systems. It is a Native American-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 183 service connections.
What type of violations does Rincon Northern have?
Rincon Northern has 285 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 82 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Rincon Northern water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Rincon Northern's water supply: PFPeA, PFOA, PFHxA, PFOS, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Rincon Northern use?
Rincon Northern uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.