Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 248,000 residents in EL MONTE, California using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 626-448-6183.
Is EL MONTE tap water safe to drink?
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 248,000 residents in EL MONTE, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Chromium (hexavalent), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Nitrate, Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Dibromochloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Nitrate and nitrite, Bromodichloromethane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Uranium, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Bromoform, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). 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 EL MONTE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE.
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.
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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.235 ppt, 235x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 2.91 ppb, 145x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Contact SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE
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 EL MONTE
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.
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 48/100 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 |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.235 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 235× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.91 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 145× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
4.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.05 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 22× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.636 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.113 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.76 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
0.975 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.31 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 16× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.749 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.02 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 11× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
3.0 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 7.0× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.33 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.4× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.22 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.4× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.011 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.8× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.331 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
174.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.284 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.106 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.0189 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.79 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
76.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.72 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.16 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
6.03 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.124 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
0.075 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.494 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.277 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.047 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.062 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.023 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
1e-05 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.019 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
1.29 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.000468 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.369 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| n-Nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) Other |
0.000253 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.
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WATER CO.-EL MONTE 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 EL MONTE water
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