What was found in Pasadena's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 10100 µg/L 101% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1376 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2700 µg/L — KINNELOA IRRIGATION DIST. · 1,960 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1600 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2016 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 163.5 µg/L 8.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 64.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 51.64 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 21.9775 µg/L 73% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 25.926 µg/L — SUNNY SLOPE WATER CO. · 25,252 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 22 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 18.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 17.765 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 12 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: SUNNY SLOPE WATER CO. · 25,252 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 10.65 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.88 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.68 µg/L — KINNELOA IRRIGATION DIST. · 1,960 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 7.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.182 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 3.9955 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6 µg/L — SUNNY SLOPE WATER CO. · 25,252 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.83 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 4.6005 µg/L 92% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 3.7 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 3.648 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 2.7985 µg/L 56% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.265 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 0.9020 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.6000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.5400 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PASADENA WATER AND POWER · 164,344 people · 2023 | 3/3 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Pasadena
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PASADENA WATER AND POWER | 164,344 |
| SUNNY SLOPE WATER CO. | 25,252 |
| KINNELOA IRRIGATION DIST. | 1,960 |
Frequently asked questions about Pasadena tap water
Is Pasadena tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 29 contaminants in the water serving Pasadena. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Pasadena?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Pasadena, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Pasadena's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Pasadena include Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Barium, Lithium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.