PlainEnviro

Tulare, CA

High Risk (66/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology. This is a different measure than the EJ Screening score for this county, which ranks it by percentile against other tracked counties rather than against these fixed caps.

Environmental data for Tulare in California · Population: 475,774

TRI sites such as Saputo Cheese USA Inc.; Lactalis Heritage Dairy Inc.; Saputo Cheese USA Inc.; SDWIS systems such as TULARE, CITY OF; PORTERVILLE, CITY OF; DINUBA, CITY OF; NPL sites such as Beckman Instruments (Porterville Plant); Southern California Edison Co. (Visalia Poleyard) anchor Tulare, CA's EPA extract. Derived burden score 66/100 (High Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

EPCRA disclosures in Tulare total 6.8M lbs; health-flagged SDWIS rows include PORTERVILLE, CITY OF; DINUBA, CITY OF; KINGSBURG, CITY OF, while Saputo Cheese USA Inc. leads TRI pounds. AQS median AQI 71 / peak 185 in 2024.

Largest TRI sites in the extract: Saputo Cheese USA Inc.; Lactalis Heritage Dairy Inc.; Saputo Cheese USA Inc.. Named SDWIS systems: TULARE, CITY OF; PORTERVILLE, CITY OF; DINUBA, CITY OF. NPL sites on record: Beckman Instruments (Porterville Plant); Southern California Edison Co. (Visalia Poleyard). Burden score 66/100 (High Risk) is the only weighted composite here; tables reproduce EPA disclosure history, not a current-safety verdict.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Tulare, CA: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-56.0%

21 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

-56.2%

1.4 million lb → 614.4 thousand lb, every facility that filed

Between the two reporting years, 0 facilities filed for the first time and 6 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.

  • Tulare, CA's total reported releases fell from 1.4 million lb in 2022 to 614.4 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Tulare, CA's off-site transfers fell from 1.4 million lb in 2022 to 579.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Tulare, CA's land releases fell from 74 lb in 2022 to 52 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Tulare, CA's chemicals reported rose from 26 in 2022 to 27 in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
475,774
TRI Facilities
28
Water Systems
96
Superfund Sites
2
Total Releases
6.8M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 76 (21%) 179 83 185
2023 94 (26%) 189 61 242
2022 58 (16%) 193 106 182
2021 49 (13%) 182 93 961
2020 52 (14%) 179 103 225
2024 Good Air Quality: 21% of days
Unhealthy days: 111
Median AQI: 71

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in California, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (96)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
TULARE, CITY OF 72,241 0
PORTERVILLE, CITY OF 63,487 1
DINUBA, CITY OF 27,281 6
KINGSBURG, CITY OF 13,540 33
LINDSAY, CITY OF 12,659 175
EXETER, CITY OF 11,169 2
FARMERSVILLE, CITY OF 10,243 1
CITY OF ORANGE COVE 9,525 5
OROSI PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT 8,300 0
WOODLAKE, CITY OF 7,846 2
EARLIMART PUD 7,679 1
CUTLER PUD 6,200 27
IVANHOE PUBLIC UTILITY DIST 4,580 1
NPS-GRANT GROVE 2,950 0
NPS-WOLVERTON 2,940 119
NPS-ASH MOUNTAIN 2,930 0
PIXLEY PUBLIC UTIL DIST 2,772 28
STRATHMORE PUBLIC UTIL DIST 2,669 2
TERRA BELLA IRRIGATION DISTRICT - TBT 2,656 42
Tule River Reservation Main 2,560 29
TIPTON COMMUNITY SERVICES DIST 2,543 17
POPLAR COMM SERVICE DIST 2,200 2
LONDON COMMUNITY SERV DIST 2,134 12
WOODVILLE PUBLIC UTILITY DIST 1,740 11
RICHGROVE COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT 1,617 15
SPRINGVILLE PUD 1,500 1
PORTERVILLE DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER 1,281 2
SULTANA COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT 983 1
INYOKERN CSD 878 1
RIVERNOOK CAMPGROUND 877 0
ALPAUGH COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT 871 96
SEVILLE WATER COMPANY 691 1
PLAINVIEW MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 617 1
DUCOR CSD 616 2
NORTH KAWEAH MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 560 1
ALLENSWORTH CSD 531 34
TRACT 92 COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT 500 0
LSID - TONYVILLE 500 91
LSID-STRATHMORE SYSTEM 500 1
THE LAKES ASSOCIATION 495 0
EAST OROSI COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT 423 55
DELFT COLONY WATER 412 0
TRIPLE R MUTUAL WATER CO 408 41
SOUTH KAWEAH MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 384 18
TEVISTON COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT 383 0
YETTEM WATER SYSTEM 350 2
TOOLEVILLE MUTUAL NON PROFIT WATER ASSN 340 1
PONDEROSA CSD 340 0
PORTERVILLE-JONES CORNER 339 1
R-RANCH IN THE SEQUOIAS 330 21
BADGER HILL ESTATES 278 0
RIVERKERN MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 272 0
SIERRA KING HOMEOWNERS ASSN 260 0
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 1 200 1
CHINA LAKE ACRES MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 198 0
WILLIAMS MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 165 1
HARTLAND CHRISTIAN CAMP 163 2
BEDEL MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 155 0
SIERRA BREEZE MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 150 1
FAIRWAY MUTUAL WATER CO 150 2
PLAINVIEW MWC - CENTRAL WATER 138 11
CAMP NELSON WATER COMPANY 134 0
CAL FIRE - MOUNTAIN HOME CNSRVTN CAMP 123 0
CAMP OWEN WATER SYSTEM 110 1
LEMON COVE WATER COMPANY 109 53
KINGS RIVER ESTATES MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 106 0
SOUTH FORK ESTATES MUTUAL WATER CO 106 0
MOUNTAIN VIEW DUPLEXES 103 0
GRIER MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 98 0
YOKOHL MUTUAL WATER CO 95 14
EAST INYOKERN MUTUAL WATER 87 0
OWENS PEAK WEST 79 0
LAKE SUCCESS MOBILE LODGE 75 1
WEST VALLEY MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 70 0
DEER MEADOW MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 70 1
SIERRA MEADOWS 68 0
MADSON GARDENS APARTMENTS 66 0
EAGLE'S NEST RESORT 60 0
VIKING RV PARK 55 0
SWEET WATER CO-OP 47 0
PIERPOINT SPRINGS WATER CO. 46 0
PORTERVILLE - EAST PLANO 46 2
BURLANDO HEIGHTS MUTUAL WATER CO. 44 0
MOUNTAIN VIEW MHP 44 0
SIERRA MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 43 66
FOOTHILL APARTMENTS 41 0
RIVER RETREAT MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 40 0
EAST THREE RIVERS MUTUAL WATER CORP 40 2
ALI MUTUAL WATER CO 39 3
148 EAST WATER SYSTEM 36 2
LIFE WATER CO-OP 35 0
VILLAGE APARTMENTS 33 1
FRONTIER TRAILS HOMEOWNERS ASSOC INC. 32 0
GLEANINGS FOR THE HUNGRY 31 51
SOUTH DESERT MUTUAL WATER COMPANY 28 0
Tule River Apple Valley 25 0

TRI Facilities (28)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Saputo Cheese USA Inc. 2.6M lbs
2 Lactalis Heritage Dairy Inc. 2.0M lbs
3 Saputo Cheese USA Inc. 1.2M lbs
4 Pinnacle Premix 508.6K lbs
5 California Dairies Inc Visalia 171.8K lbs
6 Gfp Ethanol LLC DBA Calgren Renewable Fuels 67.7K lbs
7 Bluescope Buildings N.a. Inc 42.7K lbs
8 Voltage Multipliers Inc. 36.6K lbs
9 Nutrien Ag Solutions 26.9K lbs
10 Actus Nutrition - Visalia 7.6K lbs
11 Kawneer Co Inc 4.0K lbs
12 Saputo Cheese USA Inc 3.0K lbs
13 Foster Farms Porterville Plant 2.8K lbs
14 McWane Plant & Industrial 2.2K lbs
15 Land O Lakes - Tulare Dairy 438 lbs
16 Hydrite Chemical Co 46 lbs
17 Univar Solutions USA 5 lbs
18 Quikrete - Porterville Ca Plant 0 lbs
19 Calportland Tulare Rmc 0 lbs
20 Pffj Llc--California Div Feed Mill 0 lbs
21 Cemex Farmersville Plant 0 lbs
22 Champion Home Builders Co Div 09 0 lbs
23 Jd Heiskell & Co 0 lbs
24 California Dairies Inc Tipton 0 lbs
25 Foster Farms Traver Feedmill 0 lbs
26 Wilbur-Ellis Co Earlimart 0 lbs
27 Calportland Exeter Rmc 0 lbs
28 Calportland Porterville Rmc 0 lbs

Superfund Sites (2)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Beckman Instruments (Porterville Plant) Deleted NPL Site 34.21
Southern California Edison Co. (Visalia Poleyard) Deleted NPL Site 48.91

Cities in Tulare (30)

Visalia
8 facilities · 12 water
Tulare
6 facilities · 5 water
Porterville
3 facilities · 11 water
Corcoran
3 facilities · 1 water
Exeter
2 facilities · 3 water
Pixley
2 facilities · 2 water
Lindsay
1 facilities · 3 water
Earlimart
1 facilities · 2 water
Farmersville
1 facilities · 2 water
Alpaugh
1 facilities · 1 water
Tipton
1 facilities · 1 water
Traver
1 facilities · 0 water
Three Rivers
0 facilities · 12 water
Inyokern
0 facilities · 10 water
Springville
0 facilities · 8 water
Kernville
0 facilities · 7 water
Strathmore
0 facilities · 3 water
Dinuba
0 facilities · 2 water
Sultana
0 facilities · 2 water
Badger
0 facilities · 1 water
Cutler
0 facilities · 1 water
Ducor
0 facilities · 1 water
Ivanhoe
0 facilities · 1 water
Lemon Cove
0 facilities · 1 water
Orange Cove
0 facilities · 1 water
Orosi
0 facilities · 1 water
Poplar
0 facilities · 1 water
Richgrove
0 facilities · 1 water
Terra Bella
0 facilities · 1 water
Woodlake
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Tulare, California? ▼
Tulare, CA has an environmental risk score of 66/100 (High Risk), based on 28 TRI facilities, 2 Superfund sites, and 96 water systems on record. 58 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Tulare? ▼
Yes, Tulare, CA has 2 Superfund sites on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Tulare? ▼
Tulare, CA has 28 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 6.8M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Tulare? ▼
In 2024, Tulare, CA recorded a median AQI of 71 and a peak AQI of 185. 21% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Tulare? ▼
Tulare, CA has 96 EPA-regulated water systems. 58 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Tulare? ▼
Environmental compliance in Tulare, California is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the California state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related Guides

Understanding EPA Data
How EPA collects and publishes environmental data
Environmental Justice
Who lives near polluters and environmental hazards
How to Check Environmental Quality
Step-by-step guide to checking your local environment

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro