Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in BUENA PARK, California
Tap water in BUENA PARK, California receives a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF BUENA PARK. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in BUENA PARK's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving BUENA PARK.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane 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 1.15 ppt, 1147x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 3.05 ppb, 763x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
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.
Recommended filters for BUENA PARK
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in BUENA PARK's 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.
All contaminants detected in BUENA PARK's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.15 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1147× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
3.05 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 763× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
19.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 129× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
5.98 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 100× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.11 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 85× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.82 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 58× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.27 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 42× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.419 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
5.04 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.03 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
3.76 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 8.7× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.56 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.8× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.36 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.7× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.64 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.5× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.686 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 4.9× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.688 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 4.9× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.886 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
13.0 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
17.3 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
30.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.82 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
45.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00683 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.651 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.251 ppb | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
48.3 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.516 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.03 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
6.77 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from CITY OF BUENA PARK.