Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
PASADENA WATER AND POWER
PASADENA WATER AND POWER delivers tap water graded D (64/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 164,344 residents in PASADENA, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA5) 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 626-744-4278.
Is PASADENA tap water safe to drink?
PASADENA WATER AND POWER delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (64/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including haloacetic acids (haa5) significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 164,344 residents in PASADENA, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Arsenic, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate, Uranium, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromoform, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chlorate. 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 PASADENA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for PASADENA WATER AND POWER.
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 12.2 ppb, 204x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 28.6 ppb, 191x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.46 ppb.
Contact PASADENA WATER AND POWER
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 PASADENA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 64/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
12.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 204× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
28.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 191× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.63 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 144× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.67 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 133× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.46 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 115× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.99 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 90× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.68 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 56× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
4.33 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 31× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
9.61 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 22× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
8.08 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.99 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.96 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.92 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.8× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.09 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
238.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.1× over |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.543 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
0.000284 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.0207 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
5.62 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
6.66 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0388 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0353 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
25.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.00218 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.18 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.176 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0531 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.655 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.759 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
26.7 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.
PASADENA WATER AND POWER 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 PASADENA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.