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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for CITY OF FAIRFIELD • Updated October 2026
Grade D — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
CITY OF FAIRFIELD has notable problems in EPA's records — health-based violations, elevated lead or PFAS above the federal limit. A certified filter is a reasonable precaution.
Fairfield, CA tap water is legal to drink but grades D on EPA's records, mainly because of 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years (1 unresolved). A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
Fairfield, CA tap water is legal to drink but grades D on EPA's records, mainly because of 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years (1 unresolved). A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
CITY OF FAIRFIELD's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 0 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 232 UCMR5 PFAS results for CITY OF FAIRFIELD (2024-01-23 to 2024-10-01) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
CITY OF FAIRFIELD has 2 violations on file since 2016: 1 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CITY OF FAIRFIELD reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 120,377 people (EPA PWSID CA4810003).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
Compare filter options for your Fairfield tap water
CITY OF FAIRFIELD has 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years.
See the filters matched to Fairfield's EPA results → — which certification actually removes what was found here, and what it does not touch.
Unsure which contaminants to treat? Compare home kits and certified lab testing before buying.
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CITY OF FAIRFIELD · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records 1 health-based violation for this system in the last five years, and 1 health-based violation is still listed as unaddressed or addressed-but-not-resolved. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or a required treatment step was not met.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSL InventoryLEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | Treatment technique | 2024-10-17 | Unaddressed |
| LSL ReportingLEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | Reporting | 2024-10-17 | Unaddressed |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by CITY OF FAIRFIELD
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31), 90% of the homes CITY OF FAIRFIELD sampled had lead at or below 0 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2018-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2015-01-01 → 2017-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2012-01-01 → 2014-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2009-01-01 → 2011-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2006-01-01 → 2008-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2005-01-01 → 2005-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2003-01-01 → 2005-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2002-01-01 → 2004-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2002-01-01 → 2002-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2000-01-01 → 2002-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1999-01-01 → 1999-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2024-01-23 to 2024-10-01 · 232 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 232 UCMR5 PFAS results for CITY OF FAIRFIELD were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 8 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 8 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 8 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 8 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 8 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 8 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for CITY OF FAIRFIELD · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples CITY OF FAIRFIELD reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Every scored contaminant stayed within its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and averaged below 80% of the limit. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 598 detects | 0.336 µg/L | 2.98 µg/L | 10 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Nitrate (as N) | 6212 detects | 0.147 mg/L | 1.501 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 6563 detects | 0.779 mg/L | 1.01 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 620 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 100 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 9392 detects | 19.909 µg/L | 77 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 32 | 11.45 µg/L | 24 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Lead (tap samples) | 620 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 621 detects | 1.177 µg/L | 73 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Fairfield will follow up - no obligation.
CITY OF FAIRFIELD · 32,014 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
CITY OF FAIRFIELD reports 91 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (0.3% of the lines it has inventoried). A lead service line is the pipe between the water main and a building, so treated water can pick up lead after it leaves the plant — which city-level testing does not capture. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must replace lead lines within 10 years starting in 2027.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID CA4810003 · See all California lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Fairfield homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Fairfield faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Fairfield households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Fairfield residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 94533, 94534, 94535). All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Fairfield yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Fairfield ranks #154 of 163 graded California cities.
Fairfield, CA tap water is legal to drink but grades D on EPA's records, mainly because of 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years (1 unresolved). A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution.
CITY OF FAIRFIELD's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 0 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 232 UCMR5 PFAS results for CITY OF FAIRFIELD (2024-01-23 to 2024-10-01) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
CITY OF FAIRFIELD has 2 violations on file since 2016: 1 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CITY OF FAIRFIELD reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 120,377 people (EPA PWSID CA4810003).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
CITY OF FAIRFIELD has 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years.
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Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Fairfield, CA.
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