Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS-WHITTIER
SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS-WHITTIER delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 66,045 residents in COVINA, California using groundwater. 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 626-543-2532.
Is COVINA tap water safe to drink?
SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS-WHITTIER 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 66,045 residents in COVINA, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 19 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dibromoacetic acid, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Nitrate, Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate and nitrite, Bromodichloromethane, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Uranium, Bromoform, Dichloroacetic acid. 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 COVINA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS-WHITTIER.
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 2.86 ppt, 2862x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.58 ppb, 395x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 35.9 ppb, 359x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS-WHITTIER
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 COVINA
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.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
7.03 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
13.5 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.86 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2862× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.58 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 395× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
35.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 359× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.86 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 81× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.22 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.353 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 59× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.08 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
4.93 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.91 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 21× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.9 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
2.4 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 17× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.805 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.381 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 6.4× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.031 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.68 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 3.9× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.83 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.7× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.232 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
64.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.109 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.94 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0308 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.32 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
48.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.91 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
1.64 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
7.51 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.96 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.09 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.79 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.684 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0167 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.026 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.529 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00103 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.219 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.
SUBURBAN WATER SYSTEMS-WHITTIER 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 COVINA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.