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Community Water System · PWS CA1310801

Centinela State Prison

Imperial, California 92251 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 4,100 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

4,100
People served
57
EPA violations
51
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 57 drinking-water violations at Centinela State Prison, 89% of them health-based - above the California per-system average.

57
Total EPA violations on record
89%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
4,100
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Centinela State Prison

Centinela State Prison is a state-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 4,100 residents in Imperial, California (Imperial County) through 2,001 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 57 total violations for this system , of which 51 (89%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 3 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2015.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 49 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across California, EPA tracks 7,249 public water systems serving 42,404,883 people, with 153,308 cumulative violations and 63,983 health-based violations on record. About 89% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 21.1 violations. Statewide, 447 of 694 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (64.4%).

Centinela State Prison's 57 violations sit above the California average.

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

Population Served
4,100
Total Violations
57
Health-Based Violations
51
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
State
Connections
2,001
County
Imperial
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
49
Monitoring Violations
3
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 49 2015
Chlorine MR 3 2004
Public Notice Other 3 2006
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 2012

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 8/14/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 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
PFMPA 4/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 4/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/10/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 4/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/10/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/10/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/10/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 2/14/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 2/14/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 2/14/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 2/14/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 12/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 12/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 12/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 12/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 12/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 12/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 12/11/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 12/11/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 12/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 12/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 12/11/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 12/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 12/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 Centinela State Prison.

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 CA1310801 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

California Drinking Water Authority

California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Centinela State Prison under EPA-delegated authority.

Open CA regulator portal

Source: California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water

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
2015 TTHM MCL 49 SDWIS / CA1310801 / 2950
2012 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 SDWIS / CA1310801 / 0200
2006 Public Notice Other 3 SDWIS / CA1310801 / 7500
2004 Chlorine MR 3 SDWIS / CA1310801 / 0999

How Centinela State Prison Compares

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

Metric Centinela State Prison California avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 57 21.1 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 51 8.8 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 64.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 4,100 5,850 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 7,249 regulated public water systems in California.

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 Centinela State Prison water safe to drink?
Centinela State Prison (PWS ID: CA1310801) has 57 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 4,100 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Centinela State Prison serve?
Centinela State Prison serves 4,100 people in Imperial, California. It is a State-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,001 service connections.
What type of violations does Centinela State Prison have?
Centinela State Prison has 57 total violations: 51 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 3 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Centinela State Prison water?
No. Centinela State Prison was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Centinela State Prison use?
Centinela State Prison uses Surface Water 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.