Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
COMPTON-CITY, WATER DEPT.
COMPTON-CITY, WATER DEPT. delivers tap water graded F (47/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 74,877 residents in COMPTON, California using surface water (purchased). 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 310-605-5563.
Is COMPTON tap water safe to drink?
COMPTON-CITY, WATER DEPT. delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 74,877 residents in COMPTON, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 22 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane, Bromoform, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Trichloroacetic acid, Uranium, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), 1,4-Dioxane, Nitrate and nitrite, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Trichloroethylene, Radium, combined (-226 and -228). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for COMPTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for COMPTON-CITY, WATER DEPT..
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 0.951 ppt, 951x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.35 ppb, 588x 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.
Contact COMPTON-CITY, WATER DEPT.
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for COMPTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 47/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
0.951 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 951× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.35 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 588× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
9.41 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 157× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
22.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 151× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.02 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 101× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.15 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 82× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.87 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
8.55 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
3.69 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.92 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 10× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.719 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.2× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.4 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 5.6× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
2.14 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.07 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.3× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.278 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 4.6× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.19 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 3.4× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.4 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.9× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0474 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.291 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.1× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.796 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | 2.0× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.08 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
127.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
30.6 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
6.85 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
75.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.33 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.662 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.246 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.544 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.275 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
7.85 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine Other |
0.000657 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Quinoline Other |
0.00514 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
COMPTON-CITY, WATER DEPT. service area
This water system serves 1 community in Los Angeles County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for COMPTON water
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