Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in COMPTON, California
Tap water in COMPTON, California receives a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by COMPTON-CITY, WATER DEPT.. 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 COMPTON's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving COMPTON.
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 0.951 ppt, 951x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.35 ppb, 588x 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 COMPTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in COMPTON'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 COMPTON'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 |
0.951 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 951× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.35 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 588× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
9.41 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 157× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
22.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 151× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.02 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 101× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.15 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 82× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.87 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
8.55 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
3.69 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.92 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 10× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.719 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.2× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.4 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 5.6× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
2.14 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.07 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.3× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.278 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 4.6× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.19 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 3.4× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.4 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.9× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0474 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.291 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.1× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.796 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | 2.0× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.08 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
127.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
30.6 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
6.85 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
75.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.33 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.662 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.246 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.544 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.275 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
7.85 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine Other |
0.000657 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Quinoline Other |
0.00514 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 COMPTON-CITY, WATER DEPT..