# Orchard Dale Water District — Whittier, Ca, CA — Drinking Water Quality (2021)

> Contaminant levels for the Orchard Dale Water District — Whittier, Ca, CA public water system from its 2021 Consumer Confidence Report, compared to federal limits.

- Page: https://www.thewatermap.com/water/ca/orchard-dale-water-district-whittier-ca/2021
- JSON API: https://www.thewatermap.com/api/water/ca/orchard-dale-water-district-whittier-ca/2021
- Source: the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- Verification: transcribed by a model, cross-checked by a second model, approved before publishing
- Reporting year: 2021
- Contaminants measured: 21
- Contaminants with a federal limit: 6
- Contaminants at or above the federal limit: 2
- Part of The Water Map — https://www.thewatermap.com

## Contaminants measured

| Contaminant | Category | Measured level | Sampling context | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5 | Disinfection byproducts | 2.1 ug/L (Average) | Distribution System | No federal limit | Within the limit |
| TTHM | Disinfection byproducts | 11.9 ug/L (Average) | Distribution System | No federal limit | Within the limit |
| Fluoride | Inorganic chemicals | 0.2 mg/L (Average) | GROUNDWATER AVERAGE (a) | 4 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Nitrate | Inorganic chemicals | 3.5 mg/L (Average) | GROUNDWATER AVERAGE (a) | 10 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Aluminum | Metals | 0.01 mg/L (Average) | GROUNDWATER AVERAGE (a) | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Arsenic | Metals | 3.2 ug/L (Average) | GROUNDWATER AVERAGE (a) | No federal limit | Within the limit |
| Copper | Metals | 0.33 mg/L (90th percentile) | DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 90%ile | No federal limit | Within the limit |
| Escherichia coli (E. coli) | Microbial | 0 (Highest single sample) | DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Highest No. of Detections | No federal limit | None detected |
| Total Coliform | Microbial | 0 (Highest single sample) | DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Highest No. of Detections | No federal limit | None detected |
| Chlorine Total | Other | 0.9 mg/L (Average) | Distribution System | 4 mg/L (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 7.29 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 0.4 ng/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 1.56 (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 5.53 ng/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Within the limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 4.88 (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorononanoic acid | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 2.66 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | Within the limit |
| PFOA | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 11.86 ng/L (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | At or above the limit |
| PFOS | PFAS ("forever chemicals") | 29.2 ng/L (Average) | Groundwater | No federal limit | At or above the limit |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | Not detected (Range) | Groundwater | 0.019 (MCLG) | None detected |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | Not detected (Average) | GROUNDWATER AVERAGE (a) | 15 (MCL) | None detected |
| Uranium | Radionuclides | 1.7 (Average) | GROUNDWATER AVERAGE (a) | 20 (MCL) | Detected — no federal limit |

## What these contaminants are

- **HAA5** — Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is associated with an increased cancer risk.
- **TTHM** — Total trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is linked to liver, kidney, and central-nervous-system effects and increased cancer risk.
- **Fluoride** — A mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. Beneficial at low levels, but long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause bone disease and tooth mottling.
- **Nitrate** — A compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. Levels above the federal limit can cause 'blue baby syndrome,' a serious oxygen-transport condition in infants.
- **Aluminum** — A common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels can discolor water.
- **Arsenic** — A naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. A known human carcinogen; long-term exposure is linked to skin, bladder, and lung cancer.
- **Copper** — A metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. Short-term exposure causes stomach distress; long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.
- **Escherichia coli (E. coli)** — Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. Its presence in drinking water indicates fecal contamination and a real risk of waterborne illness.
- **Total Coliform** — A group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. Coliforms themselves are usually harmless, but their presence signals that disease-causing organisms could enter the system.
- **Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid** — Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' Has no standalone limit but is part of the EPA PFAS Hazard Index that limits PFAS in combination.
- **Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)** — Perfluorodecanoic acid, a longer-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' Monitored under EPA rules; persistent and bioaccumulative.
- **Perfluoroheptanoic acid** — Perfluoroheptanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' Monitored under EPA rules; persistent in the environment.
- **Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid** — Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' Regulated by the EPA at 10 parts per trillion and included in the PFAS Hazard Index.
- **Perfluorohexanoic acid** — Perfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' Monitored under EPA rules; persistent and widely detected.
- **Perfluorononanoic acid** — Perfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' Regulated by the EPA at 10 parts per trillion and included in the PFAS Hazard Index.
- **PFOA** — Perfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. Linked to cancer, liver damage, and immune effects; the EPA set an enforceable limit of 4 parts per trillion.
- **PFOS** — Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. Linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and immune effects; the EPA set an enforceable limit of 4 parts per trillion.
- **Combined Radium** — Combined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases the risk of bone cancer.
- **Gross Alpha** — Gross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases cancer risk.
- **Uranium** — A naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the kidneys and increase cancer risk.

## How to read this

- A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
- 'Federal limit' is the EPA standard (MCL, action level, treatment technique, etc.) that the measured level is compared against.
- 'At or above the federal limit' means the utility's own reported figure met or exceeded that standard.

_Figures are the utility's own published numbers. Generated 2026-06-04 from thewatermap.com._