Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SOUTH GATE-CITY, WATER DEPT.
SOUTH GATE-CITY, WATER DEPT. delivers tap water graded F (49/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 76,443 residents in SOUTH GATE, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 323-563-9567.
Is SOUTH GATE tap water safe to drink?
SOUTH GATE-CITY, WATER DEPT. delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (49/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 76,443 residents in SOUTH GATE, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 18 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Bromodichloromethane, Uranium, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Bromoform, 1,4-Dioxane. 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 SOUTH GATE-CITY, WATER DEPT. (system ID CA1910152) 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 SOUTH GATE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SOUTH GATE-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 4.7 ppt, 4702x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.9 ppb, 475x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 34.8 ppb, 348x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact SOUTH GATE-CITY, WATER DEPT.
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 SOUTH GATE
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.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
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 49/100 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 |
8.88 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
24.3 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
4.7 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4702× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.9 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 475× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
34.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 348× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.6 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 80× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.423 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 71× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
5.68 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
1.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.763 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.2 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.31 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.4× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.22 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.7× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.519 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.6× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.85 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 6.6× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.33 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.5× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.54 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.1× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.03 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 2.9× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.328 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.273 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
98.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.02 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0212 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
77.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.48 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.66 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
9.76 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
63.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.08 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.84 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.16 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
2.65 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.68 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00209 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.551 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.328 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.
SOUTH GATE-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.
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