Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA tap water
29 contaminants were measured in the Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 29
- Over federal limit
- 2
- 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. | 0–14 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. | 0–6.6 ng/LRangeSource water | 5.1 ng/LNL | At or above the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0–6.4 ng/LRangeSource water | 500 ng/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluorohexanoic acidPerfluorohexanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0–3.3 ng/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Perfluoropentanoic acidPerfluoropentanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0–4.9 ng/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0–22 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. | 0.15–0.5 NTURangeSource water | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 150–200 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 230–270 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.5–8.3RangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 720–910RangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 400–550 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 2.3–4.3 mg/LRangeSource water | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.2–0.28 mg/LRangeSource water | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 69–120 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 100–140 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 |
| 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. | 71–83 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, HexavalentHexavalent chromium ('chromium-6') — the more toxic form of chromium. | 0.14–1.9 ug/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0–89 ug/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 12–16 mg/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0–11 ug/LRangeSource water | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 55–82 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. | 2.8–26 ug/LRangeSource water | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 1.5–6.2 ug/LRangeSource water | None set | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.2–1.2 mg/LRangeSource water | 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. | 0RangeSource water | 0Public health goal | None detected |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 0–1.7 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 2023?
The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for the Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, 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 Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA tap water?
29 contaminants were measured in Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and physical & aggregate. 9 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?
2 contaminants in Whittier-city, Water Dept. — Whittier, Ca, CA's 2023 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOS (3.5× the limit); PFOA (1.6× 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 2023 report is PFOS, at 3.5× 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 2023 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 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.