Barstow grew up along the Mojave River, and most of its wells draw from the river’s alluvial sands and gravels. Each part of town has its own pattern: Lenwood mixes homes and businesses with varied water demand, Barstow Heights sits higher and can be harder on pumps and pressure, and Montara has a mix of older and newer homes where a routine inspection is cheap insurance.
West of Barstow, the community of Hinkley is known for the PG&E hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) groundwater plume. If you’re buying a property with a well anywhere near that area, test the water, and ask for chromium-6 specifically. California set a 10 µg/L limit for chromium-6 in public drinking water in 2024, a useful yardstick for a private well.
We work with Barstow homeowners on repairs and emergencies, and with real estate agents who need accurate, readable well certifications that keep a sale on track.
Water rules here
Barstow sits in the adjudicated Mojave Basin Area, managed by the Mojave Water Agency as Watermaster. Well permits come from San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services.
What we do in Barstow
Barstow questions
Asked and answered.
Do you offer emergency well pump service in Barstow?
Yes. Superior offers 24/7 emergency pump service. Call or text (760) 780-2144 with your address and what the water is doing.
Should I test a Barstow-area well for chromium-6?
If the property is anywhere near Hinkley, yes. Ask the lab for hexavalent chromium specifically, and compare the result with California’s 10 µg/L drinking water limit. Use bottled water until you have results if you’re concerned.
Do Barstow real estate agents need a well certification to close?
Usually the lender requires one when a home is served by a private well. It shows the well produces enough water and that the water passes a bacteria test. We bill through escrow.