California has reinforced its position as a national leader in drinking water safety with the release of a new public tool that allows residents to check the material of their water service lines. The interactive, searchable map, launched by the State Water Resources Control Board, compiles data from the statewide service-line inventory required under federal rules.
According to the inventory, nearly 10 million drinking water service connections across California have no reported lead service lines, a result that places the state well ahead of most of the country in addressing this long-standing public health concern. The map is designed to improve transparency and give customers direct access to information about their local drinking water infrastructure.
“Today we are proud to provide Californians with the means of checking their drinking water infrastructure for reports of lead,” said Darrin Polhemus, deputy director of the State Water Board’s Division of Drinking Water. “With no confirmed lead service lines out of the millions reported so far, California leads the nation. The new map empowers consumers, builds trust, and marks another step in our commitment to safe, lead-free drinking water.”
The data were collected under the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, which required all community and non-transient non-community water systems to submit service-line material inventories by October 2024. While water systems nationwide have reported millions of lead service lines, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that up to nine million homes across the United States may still be connected to lead pipes.
In California, around six percent of service lines are currently classified as having unknown materials and will require further investigation. State officials expect that only a small fraction of these, if any, will ultimately be found to contain lead.
The board also noted that the inventory does not cover pipes and fixtures inside buildings, which may still pose a risk if they contain lead components, particularly in older properties. By making the inventory publicly accessible, California aims to strengthen public confidence while continuing efforts to prevent lead exposure and protect drinking water quality statewide.
