Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

GLENDALE-CITY, WATER DEPT.

Serving 188,784 residents in GLENDALE, California .

National rank 27th percentile
California rank 42th percentile
Data confidence Medium
D
56/100
Below Average
ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Quick answer

GLENDALE-CITY, WATER DEPT. delivers tap water graded D (56/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 188,784 residents in GLENDALE, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 818-548-2011.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
188,784
People served
1
City served
26
Contaminants detected
10
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)

Is GLENDALE tap water safe to drink?

GLENDALE-CITY, WATER DEPT. delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (56/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.

The utility serves 188,784 residents in GLENDALE, drawing from surface water (purchased).

Public testing data identifies 10 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Chromium (hexavalent), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Arsenic*, Nitrate and nitrite, Nitrate, Uranium*, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 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.

Top concerns in this water

Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for GLENDALE-CITY, WATER DEPT..

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.

Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Chromium (hexavalent) detected at 4.93 ppb, 247x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 12.3 ppb, 205x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 23.3 ppb, 155x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Arsenic detected

Moderate concern

Arsenic detected at 0.16 ppb.

Contact GLENDALE-CITY, WATER DEPT.

Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.

Recommended water filters for GLENDALE

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

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 56/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
10 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
9 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
7 / 10

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
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
4.93 ppb 0.02 247× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
12.3 ppb 0.06 205× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
23.3 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 155× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
4.57 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 46× over
Arsenic*
Heavy metal
0.16 ppb 0.004 10.0 10 10 0.004 40× over
Nitrate and nitrite
Inorganic
5.14 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 37× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
4.26 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 30× over
Uranium*
Radiological
1.33 pCi/L 0.43 20.0 30 30 0.43 3.1× over
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
PFAS
0.126 ppt 0.09 4.0 100 100 0.007 1.4× over
Radium, combined (-226 and -228)*
Radiological
0.07 pCi/L 0.05 5.0 1.4× over
Chlorate
Disinfection byproduct
124.6 ppb 210.0 Below guideline
1,4-Dioxane
Semi-volatile organic compound
0.0996 ppb 0.35 50 1 Below guideline
Vanadium
Other
5.06 ppb 21.0 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
5.36 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Barium
Heavy metal
27.4 ppb 700.0 2000.0 1300 2000 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
1.24 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
PFAS
1.18 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Aluminum
Heavy metal
0.481 ppb 600.0 200 600 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.938 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
Chloromethane
Other
0.000906 ppb 2.69 Below guideline
1,1-Dichloroethane
Volatile organic compound
0.000757 ppb 3.0 Below guideline
Chlorodifluoromethane
Other
0.0542 ppb Below guideline
Chromium (total)
Heavy metal
1.86 ppb 100.0 Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
0.287 ppm 4.0 1.5 1.5 Below guideline
n-Nitrosomorpholine (NMOR)
Other
0.00358 ppb Below guideline
tert-Butyl alcohol
Other
0.269 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.

GLENDALE-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.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
CA1910043
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water (purchased)
Service connections
36,074
Service area
GLENDALE, Los Angeles County, California