Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in EL MONTE, California
Tap water in EL MONTE, California receives a grade of F (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in EL MONTE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving EL MONTE.
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.
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 0.235 ppt, 235x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 2.91 ppb, 145x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE (system ID CA1910039) 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.
Recommended filters for EL MONTE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in EL MONTE's 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.
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 EL MONTE'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.235 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 235× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.91 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 145× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
4.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.05 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 22× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.636 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.113 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.76 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.975 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.31 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 16× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.749 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.02 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 11× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
3.0 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 7.0× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.33 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.4× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.22 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.4× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.011 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.331 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
174.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.284 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.106 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.0189 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.79 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
76.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.72 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.16 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
6.03 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.124 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
0.075 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.494 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.277 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.047 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.062 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.023 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
1e-05 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.019 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
1.29 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.000468 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.369 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| n-Nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) Other |
0.000253 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 SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE.