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Is there PFAS in Rancho California Water District water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Rancho California Water District averaged 13.5 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 3.4 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

Rancho California Water District Serves 146,147 people · 77 PFOA samples from 38 sampling points · Mar 2023 to Dec 2024 Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid 10.5 ppt avg · max 11.0
EPA 4
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid 13.5 ppt avg · max 16.0
EPA 4
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid 5.8 ppt avg · max 6.7
EPA 10
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined 0.6 avg · max 0.7
EPA 1

Also detected, no federal limit: PFBA, PFPeA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFHpA.

Averages are for the worst sampling point, with non-detects counted as zero. Source: EPA UCMR 5.

Rancho California Water District is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Temecula, California, serving about 146,147 people, including Murrieta, Temecula. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 77 times across 38 sampling points between Mar 2023 and Dec 2024.

Every PFAS detected

PFAS Detected Highest Worst point avg EPA limit
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid		 6 of 77 16.0 ppt 13.5 ppt 4 ppt
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid		 8 of 77 11.0 ppt 10.5 ppt 4 ppt
PFBA
Perfluorobutanoic acid		 4 of 77 7.8 ppt 3.9 ppt none
PFPeA
Perfluoropentanoic acid		 4 of 77 7.7 ppt 7.3 ppt none
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid		 5 of 77 7.3 ppt 4.2 ppt none
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid		 3 of 77 6.7 ppt 5.8 ppt 10 ppt
PFHxA
Perfluorohexanoic acid		 5 of 77 6.6 ppt 5.3 ppt none
PFHpA
Perfluoroheptanoic acid		 1 of 77 3.3 ppt 1.6 ppt none

Not detected: NMeFOSAA, 6:2 FTS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFNA, PFDA, PFDoA, 8:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, NEtFOSAA, ADONA, 4:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFMBA, PFEESA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFHpS, PFTA, PFTrDA, PFUnA, HFPO-DA.

Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 44 ppb, detected in 15 of 78 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.

What the EPA limits mean here

In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.

Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.

What you can do at home

Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.

Other systems in California

All 707 tested systems in California

ZIP codes served

92562 92590 92591 92592

As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.

Cite this page

Well & Tap. "PFAS in Rancho California Water District water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID CA3310038. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/california/rancho-california-water-district/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID CA3310038). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.