Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA tap water
36 contaminants were measured in the Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 36
- 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. | 29.5 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | At or above the limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 12.3 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | At or above the limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 4.8 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 6.8 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acidPerfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 10 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanoic acidPerfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 11.5 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 5.7 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 3.46 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.31 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 91 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 112 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.3 NTUAverageSystem-wide | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 168 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Bicarbonate | 206 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 15.7AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| OdorA measure of detectable smell in the water. | Not detectedAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.5AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 818AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 491 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 2.8 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.23 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 80 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 15.9 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0.19 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 4.5 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 60.1 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 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/LAverageSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 1.06 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TetrachloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (PCE) used in dry cleaning and degreasing. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| TrichloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (TCE) used in metal degreasing. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 1.9 %AverageMonthly Average | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 0.67 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA's water
+Is Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA tap water safe to drink in 2023?
The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for the Downey - City, Water Dept. — 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 Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA tap water?
36 contaminants were measured in Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and physical & aggregate. 8 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 Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA tap water?
2 contaminants in Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA's 2023 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOS (7.4× the limit); PFOA (3.1× 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 Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2023 report is PFOS, at 7.4× 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 Downey - City, Water Dept. — Downey, Ca, CA's 2023 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 Downey - City, Water Dept. — 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 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.