Pasadena, CA Water Quality Report

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

Quick Answers

Is Pasadena tap water safe to drink? Pasadena water has high PFAS contamination. EPA UCMR5 testing detected a peak level of 100 ppt, significantly above the EPA's 4 ppt enforceable limit. A reverse osmosis or certified PFAS filter is strongly recommended.

What contaminants are in Pasadena water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Pasadena water: lithium (100 ppt), PFOS (0.02 ppt), PFOA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Pasadena? 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.

Pasadena Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Pasadena drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 100 ppt across 3 water systems, representing an average of 31.86 ppt across 8 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: HIGH – High contamination – multiple PFAS compounds detected at levels significantly above EPA safety thresholds.

Top Detected Compounds

  • lithium: 100 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFOS: 0.02 ppt
  • PFOA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFBA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFHxS: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Pasadena Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 17 lead samples for Pasadena water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.036 mg/L (above 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 Pasadena

Pasadena public water systems have 23 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Chromium, Selenium, Lead. 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 Pasadena: approximately 137,122.

ZIP Codes Served

91101, 91102, 91103, 91104, 91105

What Pasadena 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