Here is what the EPA's own data shows about tap water in Independence. According to EPA SDWIS data retrieved July 2026, Independence is served by 3 active community water systems, together reported to serve about 3,063 people.
As of July 2026, EPA records show 54 violations across the community water system(s) serving Independence, going back to the earliest EPA record. 4 of these are classified by the EPA as health-based (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks); the rest are monitoring or reporting violations. Each is listed by system below, with its status.
Health-based LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in October 2024. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2024. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Groundwater Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 3 times between January 2018 and January 2024. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in July 2023. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 8 times between January 2021 and January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring TTHM: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 8 times between January 2021 and January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times between October 2010 and June 2015. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Inyo County Pwd - Independence
1,108 served · groundwater · PWSID CA1410008
Health-based LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded once in October 2024. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Health-based Groundwater Rule: a health-based violation (a contaminant recorded above the limit the EPA tracks), recorded 2 times in April 2018. The EPA record for these does not include a measured level. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in October 2024. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Consumer Confidence Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded once in July 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring TTHM: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 10 times between January 2021 and January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 10 times between January 2021 and January 2023. EPA records do not show all of these as returned to compliance.
Monitoring Groundwater Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in January 2018. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Monitoring Lead and Copper Rule: a monitoring or reporting violation (a required test or report was late or missed — not a measured exceedance), recorded 2 times in June 2015. All have since returned to compliance, per EPA records.
Fort Independence
120 served · groundwater · PWSID 090600129
As of July 2026, EPA records show no reported violations for this system in the period covered. This is not a guarantee about every substance, or about the water inside your home's plumbing.
What this means
A health-based violation means a contaminant was recorded above the limit the EPA tracks for it. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was late or missed — not that a contaminant was measured above a limit. “Returned to compliance” means the EPA recorded the issue as resolved.
This page summarizes the EPA's own records and does not assess whether your water is safe to drink. For the most current details, you can verify every record directly with the EPA, and contact your water system with questions.
Source: U.S. EPA Envirofacts SDWIS, retrieved July 2026. Records cover the EPA's full reporting history for these systems. Verify at EPA ECHO.