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Updated 2026-10-15
County water report

Kern County Water Quality: 13 Cities Ranked by the Records

Kern County, California: 13 city reports built from EPA and utility records. A county has many suppliers; each city shows the system that serves it.

Find my systemOpen on the mapPrivate wells in Kern County
Across the county's systems

Highest result for each contaminant

One row per contaminant: the highest result any system in the county reported, against its limit. Open a row for the systems behind it.

LithiumDetected in 7 systems of 13 tested10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit) · US EPAHighest133 µg/L
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)Detected in 2 systems of 13 tested4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest14 ng/L
  • CWS - BAKERSFIELD14 ng/LSample date: 2023-07-11 to 2026-04-06
  • BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF8.4 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-10 to 2026-05-12
  • ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-11-21 to 2025-05-29
  • CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-12-19 to 2024-09-10
  • DELANO, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-12 to 2024-09-24
  • INDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D.Not detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-25 to 2025-11-18
  • LAMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DISTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-13 to 2024-05-29
  • OILDALE MWCNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-11-28
  • SHAFTER, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-05-23 to 2023-11-06
  • TEHACHAPI, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-05-20 to 2025-12-01
  • VAUGHN WC INCNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-02-10 to 2025-08-08
  • WASCO, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-14 to 2024-05-16
  • WEST KERN WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-10-10 to 2024-04-09
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)Detected in 1 system of 13 tested4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest9.1 ng/L
  • CWS - BAKERSFIELD9.1 ng/LSample date: 2023-07-11 to 2026-04-06
  • ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-11-21 to 2025-05-29
  • BAKERSFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-10 to 2026-05-12
  • CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-12-19 to 2024-09-10
  • DELANO, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-12 to 2024-09-24
  • INDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D.Not detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-25 to 2025-11-18
  • LAMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DISTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-13 to 2024-05-29
  • OILDALE MWCNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-11-28
  • SHAFTER, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-05-23 to 2023-11-06
  • TEHACHAPI, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-05-20 to 2025-12-01
  • VAUGHN WC INCNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-02-10 to 2025-08-08
  • WASCO, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-14 to 2024-05-16
  • WEST KERN WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-10-10 to 2024-04-09
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)Detected in 2 systems of 13 tested10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest7.3 ng/L
  • CWS - BAKERSFIELD7.3 ng/LSample date: 2023-07-11 to 2026-04-06
  • BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF4.2 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-10 to 2026-05-12
  • ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-11-21 to 2025-05-29
  • CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-12-19 to 2024-09-10
  • DELANO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-12 to 2024-09-24
  • INDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D.Not detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-25 to 2025-11-18
  • LAMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-13 to 2024-05-29
  • OILDALE MWCNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-11-28
  • SHAFTER, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-05-23 to 2023-11-06
  • TEHACHAPI, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-05-20 to 2025-12-01
  • VAUGHN WC INCNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-02-10 to 2025-08-08
  • WASCO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-14 to 2024-05-16
  • WEST KERN WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-10-10 to 2024-04-09
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)Detected in 1 system of 13 tested10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest4.7 ng/L
  • BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF4.7 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-10 to 2026-05-12
  • ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-11-21 to 2025-05-29
  • CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-12-19 to 2024-09-10
  • CWS - BAKERSFIELDNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-07-11 to 2026-04-06
  • DELANO, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-12 to 2024-09-24
  • INDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D.Not detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-25 to 2025-11-18
  • LAMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DISTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-13 to 2024-05-29
  • OILDALE MWCNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-11-28
  • SHAFTER, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-05-23 to 2023-11-06
  • TEHACHAPI, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-05-20 to 2025-12-01
  • VAUGHN WC INCNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-02-10 to 2025-08-08
  • WASCO, CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-14 to 2024-05-16
  • WEST KERN WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-10-10 to 2024-04-09
Lead (90th percentile)Detected in 3 systems of 13 tested15 µg/L federal action level · US EPAHighest2.8 µg/L
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)Detected in 1 system of 13 tested2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit) · US EPAHighest6.6 ng/L
  • CWS - BAKERSFIELD6.6 ng/LSample date: 2023-07-11 to 2026-04-06
  • ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-11-21 to 2025-05-29
  • BAKERSFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-10 to 2026-05-12
  • CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-12-19 to 2024-09-10
  • DELANO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-12 to 2024-09-24
  • INDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D.Not detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-25 to 2025-11-18
  • LAMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-13 to 2024-05-29
  • OILDALE MWCNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-11-28
  • SHAFTER, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-05-23 to 2023-11-06
  • TEHACHAPI, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-05-20 to 2025-12-01
  • VAUGHN WC INCNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-02-10 to 2025-08-08
  • WASCO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-14 to 2024-05-16
  • WEST KERN WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-10-10 to 2024-04-09
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)Detected in 2 systems of 13 tested400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) · Michigan EGLEHighest4.6 ng/L
  • CWS - BAKERSFIELD4.6 ng/LSample date: 2023-07-11 to 2026-04-06
  • VAUGHN WC INC3.4 ng/LSample date: 2025-02-10 to 2025-08-08
  • ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-11-21 to 2025-05-29
  • BAKERSFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-10 to 2026-05-12
  • CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-12-19 to 2024-09-10
  • DELANO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-12 to 2024-09-24
  • INDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D.Not detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-25 to 2025-11-18
  • LAMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-13 to 2024-05-29
  • OILDALE MWCNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-11-28
  • SHAFTER, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-05-23 to 2023-11-06
  • TEHACHAPI, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-05-20 to 2025-12-01
  • WASCO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-14 to 2024-05-16
  • WEST KERN WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-10-10 to 2024-04-09
3 more contaminants detectedShow
Water hardnessDetected in 1 systemAesthetic, no federal health limit · USGSHighest4 gpg
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)Detected in 1 system of 13 testedNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyHighest3.5 ng/L
  • CWS - BAKERSFIELD3.5 ng/LSample date: 2023-07-11 to 2026-04-06
  • ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-11-21 to 2025-05-29
  • BAKERSFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-10 to 2026-05-12
  • CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-12-19 to 2024-09-10
  • DELANO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-12 to 2024-09-24
  • INDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D.Not detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-25 to 2025-11-18
  • LAMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-13 to 2024-05-29
  • OILDALE MWCNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-11-28
  • SHAFTER, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-05-23 to 2023-11-06
  • TEHACHAPI, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-05-20 to 2025-12-01
  • VAUGHN WC INCNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-02-10 to 2025-08-08
  • WASCO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-14 to 2024-05-16
  • WEST KERN WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-10-10 to 2024-04-09
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)Detected in 2 systems of 13 testedNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyHighest5.5 ng/L
  • CWS - BAKERSFIELD5.5 ng/LSample date: 2023-07-11 to 2026-04-06
  • VAUGHN WC INC3.1 ng/LSample date: 2025-02-10 to 2025-08-08
  • ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-11-21 to 2025-05-29
  • BAKERSFIELD, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-10 to 2026-05-12
  • CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-12-19 to 2024-09-10
  • DELANO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-12 to 2024-09-24
  • INDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D.Not detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-25 to 2025-11-18
  • LAMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DISTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-13 to 2024-05-29
  • OILDALE MWCNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-02-13 to 2023-11-28
  • SHAFTER, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-05-23 to 2023-11-06
  • TEHACHAPI, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-05-20 to 2025-12-01
  • WASCO, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-11-14 to 2024-05-16
  • WEST KERN WATER DISTRICTNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2023-10-10 to 2024-04-09
21 PFAS tested, none detected in any systemShow

Tested in these 13 systems: ARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DIST, BAKERSFIELD, CITY OF, CALIFORNIA CITY, CITY OF, CWS - BAKERSFIELD, DELANO, CITY OF, INDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D., LAMONT PUBLIC UTILITY DIST, OILDALE MWC, SHAFTER, CITY OF, TEHACHAPI, CITY OF, VAUGHN WC INC, WASCO, CITY OF, WEST KERN WATER DISTRICT

  • 11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)
  • 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)
  • 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)
  • 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)
  • 4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
  • 9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)
  • Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)
  • N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)
  • N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
  • Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)
  • Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)
  • Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)
  • Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)
  • Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)
  • Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
  • Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
  • Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
  • Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
  • Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)
  • Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)
  • Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)
13 cities

Cities ranked by the records

Showing 6 of 13 cities · scores are system-level, not tap tests

Ranked by the Purity Score of each city's main water system, highest first. Scores belong to water systems; there is no county score. The score is computed only from contaminants measured in the published EPA record, so this ranks the record, not which city's water is safest. How the score works.

PFAS in Kern County2 of 13 city reports had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit
  1. Hillcrest14 ng/L
  2. Bakersfield8.4 ng/L
4.0 ng/L federal MCL · PFOS, ng/LPFAS in California
Lead

0of 13 cities above the 15 µg/L action level

Based on each system's 90th-percentile result. Lead from household plumbing isn't in this record.

Lead in California
Hard water

1city reports hardness · Bakersfield, 4 gpg

None above 7 gpg, the USGS threshold for hard water. An aesthetic measure with no federal health limit.

Hard water explained
Who supplies the county

Largest water systems

  1. HillcrestCWS - BAKERSFIELD · CA1510003
    268,129 served
  2. BakersfieldBAKERSFIELD, CITY OF · CA1510031
    171,108 served
  3. DelanoDELANO, CITY OF · CA1510005
    51,428 served
  4. OildaleOILDALE MWC · CA1510015
    45,315 served
  5. RidgecrestINDIAN WELLS VALLEY W.D. · CA1510017
    41,474 served
  6. RosedaleVAUGHN WC INC · CA1510029
    37,189 served
  7. WascoWASCO, CITY OF · CA1510021
    22,757 served
  8. ShafterSHAFTER, CITY OF · CA1510019
    21,915 served
  9. TaftWEST KERN WATER DISTRICT · CA1510022
    20,585 served
  10. ArvinARVIN COMMUNITY SERVICES DIST · CA1510001
    19,669 served
Questions

Frequently asked

How does Kern County tap water compare across cities?

PurityMap ranks 13 cities in Kern County by the Purity Score of each city's main water system, computed only from contaminants measured in the published EPA record. Scores belong to water systems, not to cities. The highest published score is Delano's main water system: DELANO, CITY OF · PWSID CA1510005 · Purity Score 100 (Excellent) · Confidence: moderate · Assessed at the water-system level. The ranking compares the records, not which city's water is safest, and your own tap can differ with household plumbing.

How many Kern County cities had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit?

2 of 13 Kern County city reports had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, including Hillcrest (PFOS 14 ng/L), Bakersfield (PFOS 8.4 ng/L). That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation. PFAS were detected at any level in 3.

Is there lead in Kern County tap water?

Utilities report lead as a 90th-percentile result from home taps. 3 of 13 Kern County cities reported a value above zero, and none was above the 15 µg/L federal action level. Lead usually comes from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so only a test at your tap tells you what you drink.

Have Kern County water systems had drinking-water violations?

2 cities in Kern County have a health-based violation in the federal SDWIS record within about the last ten years. Each city report lists the contaminant, year and whether it was resolved.

Does Kern County have hard water?

Hardness is published in utility water-quality reports for 1 Kern County city on record; the hardest is Bakersfield at 4 grains per gallon. Hardness affects scale and appliances; it is not a health finding.

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