Drinking water quality · 2022
· Verified
What's in City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA tap water
23 contaminants were measured in the City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA water system's 2022 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2022
- Contaminants measured
- 23
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- PFOS
- Service area
- CA
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 21.4 ng/LAverageGroundwater | None set | At or above the limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 10.4 ng/LAverageGroundwater | None set | At or above the limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.7 ng/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.2 ng/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 4.1 ng/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)Perfluorodecanoic acid, a longer-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.6 ng/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 3.4 ng/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 6.3 ng/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Total | 2.3 mg/LRunning annual avgDistribution System Highest | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Distribution System, Distribution System Highest
| |||
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 33.3 ug/LRunning annual avgDistribution System Highest | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Distribution System, Distribution System Highest
| |||
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 12.1 ug/LRunning annual avgDistribution System Highest | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Distribution System, Distribution System Highest
| |||
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 2.2 ug/LAverageGroundwater | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.057 ug/L90th percentileBell Gardens System Tap | None set | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected ug/LRangeGroundwater | None set | None detected |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 110 ug/LAverageMWD's Surface Water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— MWD's Surface Water, Groundwater
| |||
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 1.9 mg/LAverageGroundwater | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.7 mg/LAverageMWD's Surface Water | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— MWD's Surface Water, Groundwater
| |||
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0RangeDistribution System Range # Positive | 0MCLG | None detected |
+By source (2)— Distribution System Range # Positive, Distribution System Average # Positive
| |||
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | Not detected NTUAverageDistribution System | None set | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.1AverageGroundwater | 5MCL | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater, MWD's Surface Water
| |||
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | Not detectedAverageMWD's Surface Water | 15MCL | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— MWD's Surface Water, Groundwater
| |||
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | Not detectedAverageMWD's Surface Water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 0.5AverageMWD's Surface Water | 20MCL | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— MWD's Surface Water, Groundwater
| |||
People also ask about City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA's water
+Is City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA tap water safe to drink in 2022?
The 2022 Consumer Confidence Report for the City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: PFOS and PFOA. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA tap water?
23 contaminants were measured in City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA's 2022 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), metals, and radionuclides. 7 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA tap water?
2 contaminants in City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA's 2022 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOS (5.3× the limit); PFOA (2.6× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2022 report is PFOS, at 5.3× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA's 2022 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is City of Bell Gardens — Downey, Ca, CA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2022 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.