Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CITY OF GARDEN GROVE
CITY OF GARDEN GROVE delivers tap water graded F (47/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 174,226 residents in GARDEN GROVE, California using surface water (purchased). 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 714-741-5534.
Is GARDEN GROVE tap water safe to drink?
CITY OF GARDEN GROVE delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 174,226 residents in GARDEN GROVE, 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), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Nitrate and nitrite, Nitrate, Uranium, Dibromoacetic acid, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Dichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Bromoform, Radium, combined (-226 and -228)*, 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.
Quick actions for GARDEN GROVE 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 GARDEN GROVE.
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 3.39 ppt, 3387x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.57 ppb, 392x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 34.5 ppb, 345x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact CITY OF GARDEN GROVE
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 GARDEN GROVE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 47/100 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 |
5.44 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
3.39 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 3387× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.57 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 392× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
34.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 345× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.18 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 59× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.55 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 28× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
4.06 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
3.48 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 25× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.34 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 24× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
8.45 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 20× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.474 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.633 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.96 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.8× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.536 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.9× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.859 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.6× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.438 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.4× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.833 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.886 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
1.17 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
82.1 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0778 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
91.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.5 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.48 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.051 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.939 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.29 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.16 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.57 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0229 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.791 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.67 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.22 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.000158 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
124.5 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0323 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.448 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.043 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
6.06 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 GARDEN GROVE 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 GARDEN GROVE water
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