Downey, CA Water Quality Report

Is Downey tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Downey, California. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Downey, CA tap water safe to drink? Downey, CA tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 1.26 ppt across 8 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Downey, CA water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Downey water: PFOS (53 ppt), PFPeA (0.02 ppt), PFOA (0.02 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Downey, CA? For Downey, CA households, reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Downey, CA Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Downey, CA drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 53 ppt across 8 water systems, representing an average of 1.26 ppt across 8 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 53 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFPeA: 0.02 ppt
  • PFOA: 0.02 ppt
  • PFHxA: 0.02 ppt
  • PFBS: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Downey, CA Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 54 lead samples for Downey water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.01 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

EPA Violations in Downey, CA

Downey public water systems have 11 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Lead & Copper Rule, Chromium, Selenium, Gross Alpha (excl. radon & uranium). Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

Source: EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5), the 2023-2025 national testing program spanning 66,000+ public water systems – the broadest drinking water survey ever run in the US. Downey, CA serves a population of roughly 111,772.

ZIP Codes Served

90240, 90241, 90242

What Downey, California Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your California utility – it is free and updated annually
  3. Choose a filter certified for PFAS: NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis (94-99% removal) or an NSF-53 pitcher
  4. High-exposure households (pregnancy, infants, immunocompromised) should also consider a PFAS home test kit