Drinking water quality · 2021
· Verified
What's in Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA tap water
33 contaminants were measured in the Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA water system's 2021 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 3 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2021
- Contaminants measured
- 33
- Over federal limit
- 3
- 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. | 6.8–12 ng/LRangeSource water | 6.5 ng/LNL | At or above the limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 4–6.8 ng/LRangeSource water | 5.1 ng/LNL | At or above the limit |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0–2.7 ng/LRangeSource water | 3 ng/LNL | Within the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.9–5 ng/LRangeSource water | 500 ng/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 2.1–4 ng/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0–2.2 NTURangeSource water | 1 NTUMCL | At or above the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 130–180 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 206–304 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| OdorA measure of detectable smell in the water. | 0–1RangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.1–7.6RangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 750–940RangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 0.59–1.1 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 470–550 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal 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. | 0–36 ug/LRangeSource water | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 7.5–19 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TetrachloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (PCE) used in dry cleaning and degreasing. | 0.7–2.2 ug/LRangeSource water | 5 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 2–4.2 mg/LRangeSource water | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.16–0.28 mg/LRangeSource water | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| BromideA naturally occurring salt found in source water. | 180–200 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 75–110 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 88–140 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.51 mg/LReported levelSource water | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0–0.59 mg/LRangeSource water | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 0–2.2 ug/LRangeSource water | None set | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0 ug/LRangeSource water | None set | None detected |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 62–94 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0–440 ug/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 12–17 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 6.4 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 61–77 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Total | 0.2–1.43 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0Reported levelSource water | None set | None detected |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 0–2.3 pCi/LRangeSource water | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA's water
+Is Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA tap water safe to drink in 2021?
The 2021 Consumer Confidence Report for the Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA water utility lists 3 contaminants at or above the federal limit: PFOS, Turbidity, 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 Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA tap water?
33 contaminants were measured in Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA's 2021 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and inorganic chemicals. 11 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 Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA tap water?
3 contaminants in Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA's 2021 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOS (3.0× the limit); Turbidity (2.2× the limit); PFOA (1.7× 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 Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2021 report is PFOS, at 3.0× 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 Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA's 2021 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 Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, 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 2021 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.