Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California
Tap water in FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California receives a grade of D (69/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY. 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; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in FOUNTAIN VALLEY's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving FOUNTAIN VALLEY.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 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 0.109 ppt, 109x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 0.902 ppb, 45x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.16 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY (system ID CA3010069) 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 FOUNTAIN VALLEY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in FOUNTAIN VALLEY'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.
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.
All contaminants detected in FOUNTAIN VALLEY'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 |
0.109 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 109× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.902 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
0.16 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 40× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
3.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.966 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.7× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.257 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.6× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.16 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.3× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.1 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 7.8× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.419 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.0× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.88 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 6.7× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.76 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.5× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.56 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 4.5× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.286 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.0625 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0232 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.061 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
29.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.46 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.22 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
36.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0202 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
1.46 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
27.9 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.84 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.761 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
58.4 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.397 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.024 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
7.23 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 FOUNTAIN VALLEY.