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 tap water safe to drink? Downey tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 0.01 ppt across 8 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Downey water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Downey water: PFOS (0.04 ppt), PFHxA (0.02 ppt), PFPeA (0.02 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Downey? 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 Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Downey drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 0.04 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 0.01 ppt across 8 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOS: 0.04 ppt
  • PFHxA: 0.02 ppt
  • PFPeA: 0.02 ppt
  • PFBS: 0.01 ppt
  • PFOA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Downey 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

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

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Downey: approximately 111,772.

ZIP Codes Served

90240, 90241, 90242

What Downey Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually