Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in El Monte, CA tap water
25 contaminants were measured in the El Monte, CA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 25
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Tce
- Service area
- CA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in El Monte, CA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.1×)PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitWhere your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
El Monte, CA's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 6 sources.
Source
- WELL · 3
- WELL 10 LACFC
- WELL 02-A
- WELL 12 - ACTIVE
Treatment
- GAC FOR WELL 12 - COMBINED EFFLEUNT
- GAC FOR WELL 02A - COMBINED EFFLUENT
- GAC FOR WELL 02A - VESSEL 02 - EFFLUENT
- + 10 more
Distribution
Also buys water from CAL/AM WATER COMPANY - BALDWIN HILLS, SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE, and 1 more.
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based5 violations on record · most recent Aug 2012resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Other
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 2.4–7.1 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.32–0.86 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 12–24 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 21–66 mg/LRangeSystem-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. | 0–7.8 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 2.2–8 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.65 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | Not detected ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | None detected |
| Chromium, HexavalentHexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium. | 3.5–5.6 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 14–25 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.36–1.28 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the 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. | 0–6.1 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 0–0.93 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0Reported levelSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Perfluoropentanoic acidPerfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 200–380 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 460–800RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 270–500 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0–1.8 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 5 mg/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about El Monte, CA's water
+Is El Monte, CA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the El Monte, CA water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Tce. 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 El Monte, CA tap water?
25 contaminants were measured in El Monte, CA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and pfas ("forever chemicals"). 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 El Monte, CA tap water?
One contaminant in El Monte, CA's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: Tce (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 El Monte, CA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Tce, at 1.1× the federal threshold. It belongs to the other family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from El Monte, CA's 2024 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 El Monte, 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 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.