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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 585.1 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 856 µg/L — CITY OF PASADENA EL CARY ESTATES · 1,470 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 49.225 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 51.05 µg/L — CITY OF PASADENA EL CARY ESTATES · 1,470 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 41.5 µg/L 69% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 47.8 µg/L — CITY OF PASADENA EL CARY ESTATES · 1,470 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 35.12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 40.15 µg/L — CITY OF PASADENA EL CARY ESTATES · 1,470 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8.14 µg/L 54% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 38.32 µg/L — CITY OF PASADENA EL CARY ESTATES · 1,470 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 30.525 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 33.695 µg/L — CITY OF PASADENA EL CARY ESTATES · 1,470 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 20.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 18.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 12.82 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.05 µg/L — CITY OF PASADENA EL CARY ESTATES · 1,470 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 15.125 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 10.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.08 µg/L — CITY OF PASADENA EL CARY ESTATES · 1,470 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 8.03 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 6.145 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.31 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0127 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0084 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0070 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0049 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0037 mg/L 25% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2024 | 2/2 | LCR |
| PFBS | 0.0035 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0033 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF PASADENA · 152,000 people · 2025 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
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 |
|---|---|
| CITY OF PASADENA | 152,000 |
| CITY OF PASADENA EL CARY ESTATES | 1,470 |
Frequently asked questions about Pasadena tap water
Is Pasadena tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 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?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Pasadena, Texas 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 Copper, TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Chloroform, Lead. 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.