Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Fullerton, CA tap water
46 contaminants were measured in the Fullerton, CA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 46
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- PFOS
- Service area
- CA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds above EPA limits in Fullerton, 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 (3.3×)PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.7×)PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitPFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Fullerton, CA's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 7 sources.
Source
- WELL · 2
- KIMBERLY · 2
- SUNCLIPSE
- CHRISTLIEB
- + 1 more
Treatment
- MAIN PLANT PFAS TREATMENT FACILITY
- KIMBERLY 02 CHLORINATION XCLD
- SUNCLIPSE 10 CHLORINATION XCLD
- + 4 more
Distribution
Also buys water from METROPOLITAN WATER DIST. OF SO. CAL., SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS-LA MIRADA, and 3 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-based2 violations on record · most recent Dec 2017resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 42 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 15 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 2 ug/LAverageWeymouth | None set | Within the limit |
| PerchlorateA chemical used in rocket fuel and fireworks that can also form during disinfection. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Total | 1.17 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Nitrate Nitrite | 2.2 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Pce | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| Tce | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 2.2 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.7 mg/LAverageDiemer | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 106 mg/LAverageWeymouth | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 225 mg/LAverageWeymouth | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.19 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0015 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.124 mg/LAverageDiemer | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 93 ug/LAverageWeymouth | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| BoronA naturally occurring element from rock and soil. | 0.18 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | 1 mg/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 71 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, HexavalentHexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium. | 0.44 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 21 ug/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 26 mg/LAverageDiemer | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 5 mg/LAverageWeymouth | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 105 mg/LAverageWeymouth | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.13 NTUAverageAverage Amount | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 139 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Bicarbonate | 168 mg/LAverageAverage Amount | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ColorA measure of visible tint in the water. | 2AverageDiemer | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 272 mg/LAverageWeymouth | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| OdorA measure of detectable smell in the water. | 1AverageDiemer | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8.2AverageDiemer | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 996AverageWeymouth | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.4 mg/LAverageDiemer | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 632 mg/LAverageWeymouth | 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/LAverageDiemer | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 4 pCi/LAverageDiemer | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 2.8 pCi/LAverageAverage Amount | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Fullerton, CA's water
+Is Fullerton, CA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Fullerton, 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 Fullerton, CA tap water?
46 contaminants were measured in Fullerton, CA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and pfas ("forever chemicals"). 15 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 Fullerton, CA tap water?
2 contaminants in Fullerton, CA's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOS (1.6× the limit); PFOA (1.3× 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 Fullerton, CA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is PFOS, at 1.6× 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 Fullerton, 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 Fullerton, 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.