Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY
CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY delivers tap water graded C (69/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 56,747 residents in FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 714-593-4609.
Is FOUNTAIN VALLEY tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (69/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 56,747 residents in FOUNTAIN VALLEY, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Chromium (hexavalent), Arsenic*, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate and nitrite, Nitrate, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Uranium, Bromoform, 1,4-Dioxane, Dichloroacetic acid, Radium, combined (-226 and -228)*, Bromodichloromethane. 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 FOUNTAIN VALLEY (system ID CA3010069) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
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 FOUNTAIN VALLEY 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 FOUNTAIN VALLEY.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 36.2 ppb, 362x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.109 ppt, 109x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 0.902 ppb, 45x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.16 ppb.
Contact CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY
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 FOUNTAIN VALLEY
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.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 69/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.109 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 109× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.902 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
0.16 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 40× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
3.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.966 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.7× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.257 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.6× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.16 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.3× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.1 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 7.8× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.419 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.0× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.88 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 6.7× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.76 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.5× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.56 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 4.5× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.286 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.0625 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0232 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.061 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
29.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.46 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.22 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
36.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0202 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
1.46 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
27.9 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.84 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.761 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
58.4 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.397 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.024 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
7.23 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 FOUNTAIN VALLEY service area
This water system serves 1 community in Orange County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for FOUNTAIN VALLEY water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.