Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SOUTH GATE, California
Tap water in SOUTH GATE, California receives a grade of F (49/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by SOUTH GATE-CITY, WATER DEPT.. 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 SOUTH GATE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SOUTH GATE.
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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 4.7 ppt, 4702x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.9 ppb, 475x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 34.8 ppb, 348x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for SOUTH GATE-CITY, WATER DEPT. (system ID CA1910152) 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 SOUTH GATE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SOUTH GATE'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 SOUTH GATE'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
8.88 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
24.3 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
4.7 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4702× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.9 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 475× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
34.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 348× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.6 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 80× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.423 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 71× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
5.68 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
1.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.763 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.31 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.4× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.22 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.7× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.519 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.6× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.85 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 6.6× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.33 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.5× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.54 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.1× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.03 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 2.9× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.328 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.273 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
98.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.02 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0212 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.48 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.66 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
9.76 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
63.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.08 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.84 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.16 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
2.65 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.68 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00209 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.551 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.328 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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 SOUTH GATE-CITY, WATER DEPT..