Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
DOWNEY - CITY, WATER DEPT.
DOWNEY - CITY, WATER DEPT. delivers tap water graded D (61/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 110,556 residents in DOWNEY, California using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 562-904-7110.
Is DOWNEY tap water safe to drink?
DOWNEY - CITY, WATER DEPT. delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 110,556 residents in DOWNEY, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Chromium (hexavalent), Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), 1,4-Dioxane, Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Uranium. 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for DOWNEY - CITY, WATER DEPT. (system ID CA1910034) 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.
Quick actions for DOWNEY residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for DOWNEY - CITY, WATER DEPT..
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 5.87 ppt, 5873x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.43 ppb, 357x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Contact DOWNEY - CITY, WATER DEPT.
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Recommended water filters for DOWNEY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
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 61/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
12.1 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
29.9 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
5.87 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 5873× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.43 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 357× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
2.07 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 345× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.16 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 23× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
3.18 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 23× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.276 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.541 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 9.0× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.64 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 4.7× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.025 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.2× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.51 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 3.5× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.177 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
12.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.6 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
23.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
65.4 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
2.05 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
9.66 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
8.07 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
6.27 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
2.83 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
6.03 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
2.58 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00349 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.496 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0227 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.301 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
DOWNEY - 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 DOWNEY water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.