Protecting Your Drinking Water
Providing safe, reliable drinking water is at the core of
everything we do. Golden State Water continually invests in water
infrastructure, treatment facilities, water
quality monitoring, and rigorous testing to help ensure
the water delivered to our customers meets all state and federal
drinking water standards.
As part of this commitment, we routinely monitor
for lead and copper in accordance
with federal and state regulations. Below, you will
find information on how lead and copper monitoring
works, where lead can come from, how to identify your
home’s plumbing materials, and where you can
find additional information and resources.
How We Monitor for Lead
Golden State Water conducts lead and
copper monitoring in accordance
with requirements established by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California State
Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).
For water systems that consistently meet lead and
copper standards, water samples are collected every three
years from homes that represent the highest potential
risk for lead exposure. These homes are selected in
accordance with federal regulations to help verify that lead
levels remain below the EPA Action Level of 15 parts
per billion (ppb) and copper levels below
action level of 1300 parts per billion (ppb).
If lead and copper levels were ever to exceed the EPA
Action Level, additional monitoring and other
regulatory requirements would be implemented to protect public
health.
All water quality testing is performed by State-certified
laboratories, and results are submitted directly to the
California Division of Drinking Water for review and public
record.
Related Links
Lead and Copper Sampling Program
As part of our routine water quality monitoring, some customers
may be invited to participate in Golden State
Water’s Lead and Copper Sampling Program.
Participation helps verify that our water continues to meet state
and federal drinking water standards and supports our ongoing
commitment to protecting public health.
If you’ve received a sampling kit or would like to
learn more about the program, visit our Lead and
Copper Sampling Program page here.
Understanding Lead and Home Plumbing
Lead is generally not present in the water
produced by Golden State Water’s treatment facilities. When
lead is found in drinking water, it most often comes from older
plumbing materials after water enters a home or building.
Homes built before 1986 are more likely
to contain plumbing materials that may include:
- Lead service lines
- Lead solder used to join copper pipes
- Older brass fixtures and faucets
Beginning in 2014, changes to the Safe Drinking Water Act further
reduced the allowable lead content in plumbing materials used in
new construction and plumbing repairs.
Does Your Home Have Lead Pipes?
Knowing what your plumbing is made of can help you better
understand your home’s water system.
Visit our Does Your
Home Have Lead Pipes? page to learn more about
your home’s plumbing materials and complete your
service line inventory.
Additional Resources
For more information about lead in drinking water, visit:
If you have questions about Golden State Water’s lead monitoring
program or your drinking water, please contact Customer
Service at 800.999.4033.
