Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
GSWC - BELL, BELL GARDENS
GSWC - BELL, BELL GARDENS delivers tap water graded D (57/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 54,877 residents in ANAHEIM, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 626-250-1517.
Is ANAHEIM tap water safe to drink?
GSWC - BELL, BELL GARDENS delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 54,877 residents in ANAHEIM, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 21 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Bromoform, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, 1,4-Dioxane, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Uranium, 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for GSWC - BELL, BELL GARDENS (system ID CA1910011) 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 ANAHEIM residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for GSWC - BELL, BELL GARDENS.
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 1.14 ppt, 1143x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
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 9.49 ppb, 158x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.567 ppb.
Contact GSWC - BELL, BELL GARDENS
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 ANAHEIM
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.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 57/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
5.14 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.14 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1143× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
9.49 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 158× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.567 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 142× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
13.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 93× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.26 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 54× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.967 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.553 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.29 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 25× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.27 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.1× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.28 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.1× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.27 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.5× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
2.34 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.9× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.353 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.5× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.555 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.8× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.766 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 2.2× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.128 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.83 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 1.9× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
147.2 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.142 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.68 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.96 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
36.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.48 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
5.57 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00531 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.721 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.893 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.508 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.395 ppb | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.444 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.
GSWC - BELL, BELL GARDENS 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 ANAHEIM water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.