Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in HUNTINGTON BEACH, California
Tap water in HUNTINGTON BEACH, California receives a grade of F (49/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in HUNTINGTON BEACH's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving HUNTINGTON BEACH.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.71 ppb, 428x 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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.314 ppt, 314x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH (system ID CA3010053) 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 HUNTINGTON BEACH
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in HUNTINGTON BEACH'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 HUNTINGTON BEACH'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.71 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 428× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.314 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 314× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
35.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 237× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
13.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 216× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 173× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 102× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.49 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 83× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.5 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
11.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.17 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.51 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.0× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.117 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.8× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.47 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 5.7× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.028 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4.7× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.676 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 2.3× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.307 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.2× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.284 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.0× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.385 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 1.1× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.04 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
18.2 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.89 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.94 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
52.9 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
15.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.875 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
0.931 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00252 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.65 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
187.8 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.474 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0574 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
5.82 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 HUNTINGTON BEACH.