Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in PASADENA, California
Tap water in PASADENA, California receives a grade of D (64/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by PASADENA WATER AND POWER. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) 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 PASADENA's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving PASADENA.
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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 12.2 ppb, 204x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 28.6 ppb, 191x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.46 ppb.
Recommended filters for PASADENA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in PASADENA's water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 PASADENA'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 |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
12.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 204× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
28.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 191× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.63 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 144× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.67 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 133× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.46 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 115× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.99 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 90× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.68 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 56× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
4.33 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 31× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
9.61 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 22× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
8.08 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.99 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.96 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.92 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.8× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.09 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
238.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.543 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
0.000284 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.0207 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
5.62 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
6.66 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0388 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0353 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
25.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.00218 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.18 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.176 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0531 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.655 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.759 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
26.7 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 PASADENA WATER AND POWER.