What's in Helix Water District — La Mesa, Ca, CA tap water

33 contaminants were measured in the Helix Water District — La Mesa, Ca, CA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.

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Reporting year: 2023
Contaminants measured: 33
Over federal limit: 0
Approaching the limit: 0
Service area: CA
Source: Utility CCR

All within federal limits. Every measured contaminant in this report is below its federal threshold.

Disinfectants

Contaminant	Measured	Federal limit	Status
ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia.	1.9 mg/LAverageHelix Plant	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.	19.9 ug/LAverageHelix Plant	None set	Within the limit
HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter.	13.4 ug/LAverageHelix Plant	None set	Within the limit
BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone.	1.6 ug/LAveragePurchased Water	None set	Within the limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avg1.6 ug/L85% of limit Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ug/L0% of limit
ChlorateA byproduct that can form during disinfection, especially when hypochlorite solutions degrade.	186 ug/LAveragePurchased Water	800 ug/LNL	Detected — no federal limit
NDMA	Not detected ng/LAveragePurchased Water	10 ng/LNL	Detected — no federal limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ng/L Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ng/L

Metals

Contaminant	Measured	Federal limit	Status
ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture.	2.3 ug/LAverageHelix Plant	None set	Within the limit
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avg2.3 ug/L49% of limit Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ug/L0% of limit
CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing.	0.054 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap	1.3 mg/LAction level	Within the limit
BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge.	Not detected mg/LAverageHelix Plant	2 mg/LMCL	Within the limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected mg/L6% of limit Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected mg/L0% of limit
AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant.	0.14 mg/LAverageHelix Plant	None set	Detected — no federal limit
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avg0.14 mg/L Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected mg/L
BoronA naturally occurring element from rock and soil.	0.39 mg/LAveragePurchased Water	1 mg/LNL	Detected — no federal limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avg0.39 mg/L Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected mg/L
Chromium, HexavalentHexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium.	Not detected ug/LAverageHelix Plant	None set	Detected — no federal limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ug/L Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ug/L
LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures.	Not detected90th percentileAt the tap	None set	Detected — no federal limit
LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater.	28 ug/LAveragePurchased Water	10 ug/LNL	Detected — no federal limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avg28 ug/L Helix PlantPlant avg25 ug/L
Strontium	0.86 mg/LAverageHelix Plant	None set	Detected — no federal limit
Vanadium	Not detected ug/LAveragePurchased Water	50 ug/LNL	Detected — no federal limit
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ug/L Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ug/L

Inorganic chemicals

Contaminant	Measured	Federal limit	Status
FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay.	0.7 mg/LAverageHelix Plant	4 mg/LMCL	Within the limit
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avg0.7 mg/L23% of limit Purchased WaterPlant avg0.7 mg/L20% of limit
NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits.	Not detected mg/LMaximumHelix Plant	10 mg/LMCL	None detected
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected mg/L0% of limit Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected mg/L0% of limit
BromideA naturally occurring salt found in source water.	Not detected mg/LAverageHelix Plant	None set	Detected — no federal limit

Physical & aggregate

Contaminant	Measured	Federal limit	Status
TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water.	0.05 NTUAverageHelix Plant	None set	Within the limit
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avg0.05 NTU13% of limit Purchased WaterPlant 9% of limit
TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water.	2.6 mg/LAverageHelix Plant	None set	Detected — no federal limit
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avg2.6 mg/L Purchased WaterPlant avg2.4 mg/L

Radionuclides

Contaminant	Measured	Federal limit	Status
Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements.	0.16 pCi/LAveragePurchased Water	5 pCi/LMCL	Within the limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avg0.16 pCi/L19% of limit Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected pCi/L0% of limit
Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances.	Not detected pCi/LAveragePurchased Water	15 pCi/LMCL	Within the limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected pCi/L27% of limit Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected pCi/L25% of limit
Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances.	2.7 pCi/LAveragePurchased Water	None set	Detected — no federal limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avg2.7 pCi/L Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected pCi/L
UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits.	1.4 pCi/LAveragePurchased Water	20 pCi/LMCL	Detected — no federal limit
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avg1.4 pCi/L Helix PlantPlant avg1.3 pCi/L

Microbial

Contaminant	Measured	Federal limit	Status
Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals.	0 %MaximumHelix Plant	None set	None detected
Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation.	0.6 %MaximumHelix Plant	None set	Detected — no federal limit

PFAS ("forever chemicals")

Contaminant	Measured	Federal limit	Status
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound.	Not detected ng/LMaximumHelix Plant	None set	None detected
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.'	Not detected ng/LAveragePurchased Water	500 ng/LNL	None detected
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ng/L Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ng/L
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.'	Not detected ng/LMinimumHelix Plant	3 ng/LNL	None detected
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit
Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.'	Not detected ng/LMaximumPurchased Water	None set	None detected
+By source (2)— Purchased Water, Helix Plant Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit
PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products.	Not detected ng/LMaximumHelix Plant	5.1 ng/LNL	None detected
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit
PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings.	Not detected ng/LMaximumHelix Plant	6.5 ng/LNL	None detected
+By source (2)— Helix Plant, Purchased Water Helix PlantPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit Purchased WaterPlant avgNot detected ng/L0% of limit

Source: Helix Water District — La Mesa, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. utility is required to publish. The numbers on this page are the utility's own. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.