Is Pico WD water safe to drink?

Pico WD (PWS ID: CA1910125) has 50 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 9 PFAS compounds found. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 22,051 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does Pico WD serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Pico WD serves 22,051 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Pico Rivera or any other city). It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 5,361 service connections. The operator address is listed in Pico Rivera, California.

What type of violations does Pico WD have?

Pico WD has 50 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 42 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in Pico WD water?

Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 9 PFAS compounds in Pico WD's water supply: PFHxS, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFOS, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.

What water source does Pico WD use?

Pico WD 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.

Where does Pico WD sit among U.S. public water systems?

According to EPA SDWIS population_served among sitemap-advertised systems (serving 500+), Pico WD ranks #2,500 of 29,740 by people served, and #336 of 1,701 in California. Ordinals use population_served DESC among systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does Pico WD's violation count compare nationally?

Pico WD has 50 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 43% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 56% of that cohort has fewer violations than Pico WD. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → California

Community Water System · PWS CA1910125

Pico WD

Operator location Pico Rivera, California - UCMR5 detected 9 PFAS compounds (upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds)) on this PWS; SDWIS lists 50 violations and 22,051 people served.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

22,051
People served (this PWS) Larger third of systems: 50
EPA violations (this PWS) Middle third of systems: 4
Health-based (this PWS) Middle third by health-based share: 9 PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Upper third of PFAS-detected systems

Follow published updates (RSS)

Pico WD standing, mid SDWIS violation third

UCMR5 detected 9 PFAS compounds - upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 8% is middle-third health share (≤ 23%). UCMR5: upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds). Population rank #2,500 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.

The verdict

Pico WD lands in the middle third by violation volume (50), large enough for peer comparisons without matching the fleet's heaviest ledgers. Population served is large (22,051; larger served population (> 3,309)), so household exposure scale sits behind the violation mix. Health-based share is 8% (middle-third health share (≤ 23%)). UCMR5 detected 9 PFAS compounds (upper-third PFAS panel (> 4 compounds)).

#2,500 of 29,740
Population · /systems: #336 of 1,701
Population · CA: 50
Total EPA violations on record: 8%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

PFAS Detected

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

Water Safety Score

29/100

Pico WD

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations D

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations F

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination F

0.0280 µg/L

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 5,361
County: Los Angeles
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 4
Monitoring Violations: 42
Treatment Tech Violations: 0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Coliform (TCR)	MCL	4	1993
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	2	2021
Xylenes, Total	MR	2	2021
DICHLOROMETHANE	MR	2	2021
o-Dichlorobenzene	MR	2	2021
Vinyl chloride	MR	2	2021
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	2	2021
Carbon tetrachloride	MR	2	2021
1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	2	2021
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	MR	2	2021
CHLOROBENZENE	MR	2	2021
Benzene	MR	2	2021
Toluene	MR	2	2021
Ethylbenzene	MR	2	2021
Styrene	MR	2	2021
p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	2	2021
Trichloroethylene	MR	2	2021
1,1-Dichloroethylene	MR	2	2021
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	2	2021
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	2	2021
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	2	2021
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	2	2021

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Pico WD has 50 recorded EPA violations, 56% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 43% carry more. 8% of this system's own violations are health-based (4 of 50), and it ranks #2,500 of 29,740 by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

50 Around the middle fewer violations than 43% of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

Pico WD plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is Pico WD. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
Pico WD: 50 violations, 8% health-based (this system)
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 57 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFTA	9/18/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	9/18/2023	5.70 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFHpA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	9/18/2023	7.30 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFHxA	9/18/2023	5.70 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
NMeFOSAA	9/18/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	9/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	9/18/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	9/18/2023	6.70 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
NEtFOSAA	9/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	9/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	9/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	9/18/2023	28.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Detected
PFPeS	9/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	9/18/2023	9.50 ppt	5.00 ppt	Detected
ADONA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	9/18/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	9/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	9/18/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	9/18/2023	14.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Detected
PFEESA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	9/18/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	9/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	9/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	9/18/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	9/18/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	9/18/2023	6.20 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFMBA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	9/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	9/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	9/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	9/18/2023	7.10 ppt	5.00 ppt	Detected
HFPO-DA	9/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	9/18/2023	13.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	9/18/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	9/18/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	9/18/2023	10.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFDoA	9/18/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	9/18/2023	5.10 ppt	3.00 ppt	Detected
PFOA	9/18/2023	13.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Detected
PFOS	9/18/2023	19.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Detected
PFNA	9/18/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected

UCMR5 PFAS record for Pico WD

Open EPA SDWIS federal reports for PWS CA1910125 to cross-check UCMR5 detections and violation codes; state primacy agencies enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act locally.

EPA SDWIS · PWS CA1910125 CA primacy agency

Sources: EPA SDWIS · California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water

Nationwide peers

50 violations · 22,051 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems near this violation count

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

Cross-state systems with similar served population

Nearest cross-state systems by EPA SDWIS population_served (same 500+ sitemap gate).

4 peers

What to do with Pico WD

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in California compares on the same EPA violation measures. California systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

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