We read 16 results from Golden State Water Co - Barstow’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 5 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 32,547 people · Water system ID CA3610043 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenicaverage · range ND to 4.1 · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 2 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal500x the health goal |
| Chromium-6average · range 0.18 to 2.1 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.92 ppb | 0.02 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal46x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)average · range ND to 11 · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 5.3 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Total dissolved solidsaverage · range 460 to 630 · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 530 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Above the guideline1.1x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| Uraniumaverage · range 2.24 to 12.4 · printed as 4.0 pCi/L · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 5.96 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal9.9x the health goal |
| Chlorideaverage · range 79 to 120 · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 97 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chlorineaverage · range 0.6 to 2.2 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | 1.4 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 1 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 9 | 0.21 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)average · range ND to 4.2 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | 3.5 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 3.3 to 23 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | 28 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.3 to 0.49 · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.37 ppm | 1 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 1 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 9 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)average · range 1.1 to 6 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 3.2 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Sulfateaverage · range 110 to 170 · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 140 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Hardnessaverage · range 13.5 to 19.9 · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 16.4 gpg (280 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Sodiumaverage · range 66 to 89 · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 8 | 76 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Golden State Water Co - Barstow’s water between Mar 2023 and Sep 2023. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA5.7 pptFound in 1 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS5 pptFound in 4 of 8 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium21.9 ppbFound in 4 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Uranium
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Salty taste / high TDS
Found: Total dissolved solids
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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