Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in GARDEN GROVE, California
Tap water in GARDEN GROVE, California receives a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF GARDEN GROVE. 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 GARDEN GROVE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF GARDEN GROVE (system ID CA3010062) 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 GARDEN GROVE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in GARDEN GROVE'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.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 GARDEN GROVE'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 GARDEN GROVE.