Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
CITY OF ANAHEIM
CITY OF ANAHEIM delivers tap water graded F (45/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 348,593 residents in ANAHEIM, California using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 714-765-4268.
Is ANAHEIM tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF ANAHEIM delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (45/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 348,593 residents in ANAHEIM, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 22 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite, Uranium, Nitrate, Bromate, Bromoform, Perchlorate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF ANAHEIM (system ID CA3010001) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 07/01/2025 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for ANAHEIM residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CITY OF ANAHEIM.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 8.8 ppt, 8799x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.46 ppb, 366x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 35.8 ppb, 358x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact CITY OF ANAHEIM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for ANAHEIM
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 45/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
8.86 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
22.4 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
8.8 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 8799× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.46 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 366× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
35.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 358× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
13.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 222× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
30.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 200× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 140× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.582 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 97× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 74× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.93 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.54 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.189 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
11.2 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.12 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.39 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.22 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 16× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
6.39 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 15× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.76 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 13× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
0.723 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 7.2× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.66 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.3× over |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
1.11 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
145.2 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.575 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0826 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
109.2 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.6 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
84.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.31 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.54 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.536 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
4.9 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.27 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
2.56 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.67 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.34 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.851 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0221 ppb | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
115.2 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0207 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0453 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.422 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0473 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
21.5 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
CITY OF ANAHEIM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Orange County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
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