Drinking water quality · 2021
· Verified
What's in City of Brea — Brea, Ca, CA tap water
43 contaminants were measured in the City of Brea — Brea, Ca, CA water system's 2021 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2021
- Contaminants measured
- 43
- Over federal limit
- 1
- 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. | 4.2 ng/LAverageAverage Amount | 6.5 ng/LNL | At or above the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 3.8 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.7 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Dibromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 1.7 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Bromochloroacetic acidA mixed-halogen haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 1.2 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Dichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 1.2 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Chlorodibromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 0.57 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Monobromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Trichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 101 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 221 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate Nitrite | 3.8 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Tce | 0.72 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Pce | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.28 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.13 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detected ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | None detected |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 140 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| BoronA naturally occurring element from rock and soil. | 0.13 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 1 mg/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 69 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, HexavalentHexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium. | 2.9 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | 0.02 ug/LPublic health goal | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 25 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0.48 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 4.6 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 98 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.2 NTUAverageAverage Amount | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 175 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Bicarbonate | 215 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ColorA measure of visible tint in the water. | 3AverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 278 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| OdorA measure of detectable smell in the water. | 3AverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8.1AverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 988AverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.5 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 628 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 10 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 2 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Bromodichloroacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PerchlorateA chemical used in rocket fuel and fireworks that can also form during disinfection. | 2.1 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | Not detected pCi/LAverageAverage Amount | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 6 pCi/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 2.7 pCi/LAverageAverage Amount | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about City of Brea — Brea, Ca, CA's water
+Is City of Brea — Brea, Ca, CA tap water safe to drink in 2021?
The 2021 Consumer Confidence Report for the City of Brea — Brea, Ca, CA water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: PFOS. 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 Brea — Brea, Ca, CA tap water?
43 contaminants were measured in City of Brea — Brea, Ca, CA's 2021 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and physical & aggregate. 13 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 Brea — Brea, Ca, CA tap water?
One contaminant in City of Brea — Brea, Ca, CA's 2021 report sits at or above the federal limit: PFOS (1.1× 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 Brea — Brea, Ca, CA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2021 report is PFOS, at 1.1× 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 Brea — Brea, Ca, CA's 2021 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 Brea — Brea, 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 2021 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.