Visalia, CA Water Quality Report

Is Visalia tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Visalia, California. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Visalia tap water safe to drink? Visalia water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 120 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.

What contaminants are in Visalia water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Visalia water: PFOS (120 ppt), PFHxS (92 ppt), PFHpA (13 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Visalia? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Visalia Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Visalia drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 120 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 14.07 ppt across 8 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 120 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHxS: 92 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHpA: 13 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFPeA: 0.03 ppt
  • PFBA: 0.03 ppt

Lead in Visalia Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 7 lead samples for Visalia water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0028 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Visalia: approximately 141,384.

ZIP Codes Served

93277, 93278, 93279, 93290, 93291

What Visalia Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually