Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in PASADENA, Texas
Tap water in PASADENA, Texas receives a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF PASADENA. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic* significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in PASADENA's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving PASADENA.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane 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 1.49 ppt, 1489x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 39.5 ppb, 658x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic* significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic* detected at 2.06 ppb, 516x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF PASADENA (system ID TX1010293) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule and Revised PN Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 02/26/2024 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for PASADENA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in PASADENA's 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.
All contaminants detected in PASADENA's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.49 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1489× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
39.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 658× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
2.06 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 516× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
36.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 245× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
24.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 242× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.11 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 205× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.36 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 139× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
16.7 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 83× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
22.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 55× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.59 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.85 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.423 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.53 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.1× over |
| Uranium* Radiological |
2.19 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 5.1× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.417 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.0× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.298 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.1× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.02 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.0× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) * Other |
1.69 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0958 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Simazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0447 ppb | 0.1 | 4.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.00573 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
101.9 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.00984 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate* Disinfection byproduct |
31.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
86.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.47 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
9.42 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Thallium* Heavy metal |
0.00483 ppb | 0.1 | 2.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium* Heavy metal |
1.28 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate* Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0822 ppb | 3.0 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane* Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00599 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.809 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.125 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.99 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.42 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.27 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.07 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.367 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt* Other |
0.0106 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.174 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Toluene* Volatile organic compound |
0.0134 ppb | 150.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Xylenes (total)* Volatile organic compound |
0.13 ppb | 1800.0 | 10000.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Ethylbenzene* Volatile organic compound |
0.0152 ppb | 300.0 | 700.0 | 1 | 10 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Picloram* Other |
0.00476 ppb | 166.0 | 500.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2-methyl-1-propene* Other |
3.5 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.038 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
5.71 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Dalapon Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0362 ppb | — | 200.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Erucylamide* Other |
3.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Ethinyl estradiol Other |
0.173 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.724 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0909 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Hexadecanoic acid Other |
7.29 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
7.3 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Methyl isobutyl ketone* Other |
0.0777 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite Inorganic |
0.0369 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine * Other |
0.0012 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Octadecanoic acid Other |
33.7 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Oleic acid* Other |
3.2 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from CITY OF PASADENA.