Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in ORANGE, California
Tap water in ORANGE, California receives a grade of F (52/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF ORANGE. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in ORANGE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving ORANGE.
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 1.7 ppt, 1699x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
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.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 23.6 ppb, 157x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.414 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF ORANGE (system ID CA3010027) 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 ORANGE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in ORANGE'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 ORANGE'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 |
1.7 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1699× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
23.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 157× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
8.71 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 145× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.42 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 107× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.414 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 104× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.05 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 68× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.75 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 68× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.59 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.62 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.53 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 17× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.27 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 16× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.17 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 15× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.277 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
4.55 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 11× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.59 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 8.6× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.54 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
113.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.107 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
94.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.26 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.03 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
7.44 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
6.22 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.498 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.16 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0463 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.778 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.295 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
0.0786 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.063 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
125.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.302 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0432 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
20.1 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 ORANGE.