Merced County Drinking Water Report Card
Merced County scores 0 out of 100 on WaterViolations.org's Drinking Water Violation Exposure Score. The county has 13 active public water systems serving 199,637 people, with 58 health-based violations on record and 3 systems with active health-based violations.
This is a research signal, not an official safety grade. Contact the water utility or state drinking-water agency for current notices and guidance.
Quote-Ready Local Facts
- 13 active public water systems serve 199,637 people in Merced County.
- 58 health-based violations are on record, or 29.1 per 100,000 people served.
- 3 systems have active health-based violations in the current dataset.
Score Breakdown
| Factor | Value | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based violations per 100,000 people | 29.1 | 60.0 / 60 |
| Systems with active health violations | 23.1% | 40.0 / 40 |
System to Review
The county system with the most health-based violations in this dataset is City of Dos Palos, with 43 health-based violations on record.
Reporter Story Kit
Use this section as a starting point for local reporting. These figures are screening signals from EPA SDWIS records, not a substitute for utility notices, state agency guidance, or direct water testing.
Fast local angles
- Ask which systems account for the active health-based violations and whether residents received required public notices.
- Compare older health-based violations with the latest Consumer Confidence Reports for affected systems.
- Ask the state drinking-water agency which violations are resolved, pending, or tied to monitoring/reporting gaps.
Contaminants Driving Health-Based Violations
| Contaminant | Health-Based Violations |
|---|---|
| Unknown | 114 |
Active Health-Violation Systems to Check First
| System | City | Population | Active Health Violations | Active Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Livingston | Livingston | 14,894 | 1 | 2 |
| City of Los Banos | Los Banos | 47,419 | 1 | 2 |
| City of Gustine | Gustine | 6,110 | 1 | 2 |
Questions to Ask
- What contaminant or treatment requirement caused each active health-based violation?
- When did the utility notify customers, and where is that notice posted?
- Has follow-up sampling shown the issue is resolved?
- Are private well owners nearby being advised to test for related contaminants?
Download all county report-card scores · Download California violation data
Copyable Reporter Summary
WaterViolations.org gives Merced County, California a Drinking Water Violation Exposure Score of 0/100 (F). The county has 13 active public water systems serving 199,637 people, with 58 health-based violations on record and 3 systems with active health-based violations. The score is based on EPA SDWIS records and is not an official safety grade.