Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
CITY OF FULLERTON
CITY OF FULLERTON delivers tap water graded F (52/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 139,461 residents in FULLERTON, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 714-738-6852.
Is FULLERTON tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF FULLERTON delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 139,461 residents in FULLERTON, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 20 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Arsenic*, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate and nitrite, Chromium (hexavalent), Trichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Uranium, Bromoform, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Radium, combined (-226 and -228)*. 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 FULLERTON (system ID CA3010010) 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 FULLERTON 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 FULLERTON.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 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 3.38 ppt, 3382x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 35.3 ppb, 353x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 25.4 ppb, 169x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.16 ppb.
Contact CITY OF FULLERTON
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 FULLERTON
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 52/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
7.71 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
3.38 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 3382× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
35.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 353× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
25.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 169× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
9.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 160× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.29 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 138× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.08 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 81× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.86 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 62× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.88 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 43× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
0.16 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 40× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
8.33 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.05 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.81 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 20× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.384 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.91 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.38 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 17× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
3.87 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 9.0× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.52 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.0× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.348 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.8× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.551 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.185 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
66.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.58 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.11 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0239 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
2.01 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
36.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.331 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
6.73 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.271 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.466 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.44 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.38 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.92 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.88 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.757 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
103.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.501 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0509 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
21.3 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 FULLERTON 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 FULLERTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.