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San Gabriel Valley WC - Fontana - Los Angeles, CA

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Serves 102,599 people - Test data available: 2004-2009

This drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) by the California Department of Public Health. It is part of EWG's national database that includes 47,667 drinking water utilities and 20 million test results. Water utilities nationwide detected more than 300 pollutants between 2004 and 2009. More than half of these chemicals are unregulated, legal in any amount. Despite this widespread contamination, the federal government invests few resources to protecting rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater from pollution in the first place. The information below summarizes test results for this utility and lists potential health concerns.

	This Drinking Water System	National Average
Exceed Health GuidelinesTests showing chemicals at concentrations above health guidelines established by federal and state health agencies. These guidelines are typically set at a levels that pose no significant health risk.	18 chemicals	4
Health Standard ExceedencesChemicals detected at concentrations above the legal limit, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCLs) established by the U.S. EPA. Most MCLs are based on annual averages, so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.	4 chemicals	0.5
Pollutants FoundThe total number of contaminants detected since 2004, according to data provided by the state water agency.	43 chemicals	8
Tests ConductedThe total number of number of water quality tests conducted by water utilities and recorded in data provided by the state water agency.	26,874 tests	420

Contaminants Exceeding Health Guidelines

Contaminant	Average/ Maximum Result	Health Limit Exceeded	Legal Limit Exceeded	Testing History -Tested      -Detected      -Over Health Guidelines      -Over Legal Limit*
NitrateNitrate enters drinking water sources from fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits; it is also emitted by chemical, petrochemical and metal-finishing industries.	4.57 ppm 16.42 ppm	Yes 10 ppm	Yes 10 ppm
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)Total trihalomethanes constitute the sum of four disinfection byproducts: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform.	5.01 ppb 99 ppb	Yes 9.8 ppb	Yes 80 ppb
TetrachloroethyleneTetrachloroethylene (perc) is a common soil and groundwater contaminant used in dry cleaning and as a solvent in automotive and metalworking factories and other industries.	0.9 ppb 10.5 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	Yes 5 ppb
Nitrate & nitriteNitrate and nitrite enter water from fertilizer runoff, leaching from septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits.	3.56 ppm 12.4 ppm	Yes 10 ppm	Yes 10 ppm
Arsenic (total)Arsenic contaminates drinking water due to mining runoff, erosion of natural deposits, emissions from glass and electronics processing and the use of arsenical compounds as wood preservatives and pesticides.	1.38 ppb 4.75 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 10 ppb
Alpha particle activityAlpha particles are a form of radiation released from mining waste pollutants and natural sources.	2.97 pCi/L 15 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	No 15 pCi/L
Lead (total)Lead is a metal that enters water by corrosion of household plumbing systems, discharge of industrial pollution and erosion of natural deposits.	0.26 ppb 2.24 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No
Radium-228Radium-228 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.07 pCi/L 0.34 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	No 5 pCi/L
PerchloratePerchlorate is a synthetic oxygen additive in solid fuel propellant for rockets, missiles, and fireworks, and is primarily used by the military and the space industry; it may occur naturally in certain imported agricultural fertilizers.	4.54 ppb 21 ppb	Yes 5 ppb	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
Radium-226Radium-226 is a radioactive element usually found around uranium deposits.	0.07 pCi/L 0.22 pCi/L	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 pCi/L	No 5 pCi/L
BromodichloromethaneBromodichloromethane is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	0.08 ppb 2.7 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 80 ppb
DibromochloromethaneDibromochloromethane is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	0.07 ppb 1.9 ppb	Yes 0.4 ppb	No 80 ppb
BromoformBromoform is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	0.01 ppb 0.49 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 80 ppb
TrichloroethyleneTrichloroethylene is used to remove grease from fabricated metal parts and in the production of some textiles; this pollutant comes from metal degreasing sites, metal finishing and rubber processing industries.	<0.01 ppb 0.66 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 5 ppb
Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)Dichloromethane is a widely-used paint remover, solvent and metal degreasing agent; it is discharged into the environment from the manufacture of chemicals, textiles, electronics, metals and plastics, pharmaceuticals and pesticides.	0.03 ppb 0.89 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 5 ppb
1,3-Dichloropropene1,3-Dichloropropene is used in chemical synthesis, in agriculture as a soil fumigant and nematocide, and as a corrosion inhibition agent.	1.97 ppb 130 ppb	Yes 0.2 ppb	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane is a persistent pesticide and groundwater contaminant associated with male sterility and severe reproductive toxicity; historically used as a soil fumigant on bananas and pineapples; banned by EPA in early 1980s.	<0.01 ppb 0.03 ppb	Yes MCLGA non-enforceable health goal that is set at a level at which no known or anticipated adverse effect on the health of persons occurs and which allows an adequate margin of safety. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.: 0 ppb	No 0.2 ppb
RadonRadon is a radioactive breakdown product of radium and uranium in soil, rock and water; it is often present in groundwater.	124 pCi/L 124 pCi/L	Yes 1.5 pCi/L	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
NOTE: Each dot in the above graph represents one month. * Water utilities are noted as exceeding the legal limit if any test is above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most MCLs are based on annual averages so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.

Other Detected Contaminants

Contaminant	Average/ Maximum Result	Health Limit Exceeded	Legal Limit Exceeded	Testing History -Tested      -Detected      -Over Health Guidelines      -Over Legal Limit*
DichlorodifluoromethaneDichlorodifluoromethane (Freon 12) is a chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant and aerosol spray propellant; it was banned under the Montreal Protocol as of 2000 because of its ozone-depleting properties.	0.64 ppb 5.55 ppb	No 1000 ppb	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
Barium (total)Barium is a mineral that enters drinking water through drilling and mining waste runoff, discharges from chemical industries and erosion of natural deposits.	26.63 ppb 52 ppb	No 700 ppb	No 2000 ppb
Chromium (total)Chromium is a metal that pollutes drinking water due to discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits.	1.43 ppb 4.75 ppb	No 100 ppb	No 100 ppb
CopperCopper is a naturally occuring metal and drinking water contaminant that enters tap water by corrosion of household plumbing systems and erosion of natural deposits.	2.6 ppb 21 ppb	No 300 ppb	No 1000 ppb
ManganeseManganese is a naturally occurring element released from mineral deposits as well as industrial use.	1.38 ppb 42 ppb	No 50 ppb	No 50 ppb
Selenium (total)Selenium is a naturally occurring element that contaminates water due to mining or petrolum refining, fly-ash from coal-burning power plants, and irrigation of arid farmland soils high in selenium.	0.26 ppb 0.87 ppb	No 50 ppb	No 50 ppb
AluminumAluminum is a metal released from metal refineries and mining operations.	5.92 ppb 110 ppb	No 200 ppb	No 200 ppb
Combined Uranium (pCi/L)Uranium is a radioactive element commonly found in most rocks; processed ore is used for power generation and weapons manufacture.	1.81 pCi/L 3.9 pCi/L	No	No 15 pCi/L
ChloroformChloroform is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is formed when chlorine, chloramines or other disinfectants react with organic and inorganic matter in water.	0.08 ppb 3 ppb	No 5.7 ppb	No 80 ppb
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylenecis-1,2-Dichloroethylene is a pollutant discharged by various industrial chemical factories from the manufacture of plastic wrap, adhesives and synthetic fiber.	0.01 ppb 0.89 ppb	No 70 ppb	No 70 ppb
Chromium (hexavalent)Chromium is a metal that pollutes drinking water due to discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits.	2.68 ppb 3.4 ppb	No	No 100 ppb
Thallium (total)Thallium is a highly toxic metal that contaminates the environment due to leaching from ore-processing sites, discharge from electronics, glass, and drug factories and historical use as rodenticide	<0.01 ppb 0.05 ppb	No 0.1 ppb	No 2 ppb
Antimony (total)Antimony is a metal that enters water from petroleum refinery pollution, fire retardants, ceramics, electronics and solder.	<0.01 ppb 0.22 ppb	No 5.6 ppb	No 6 ppb
Cadmium (total)Cadmium is a metal used in the steel and plastic industries; it is released from corrosion of galvanized pipes, runoff from metal refineries, waste batteries and paints; contamination from fertilizers; and erosion of natural deposits.	<0.01 ppb 0.03 ppb	No 0.04 ppb	No 5 ppb
NitriteNitrite is a chemical that enters water from fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks, and erosion of natural deposits.	<0.01 ppm 0.44 ppm	No 1 ppm	No 1 ppm
m- & p- XyleneXylene is a petroleum-derived solvent used in the printing, rubber, and leather industries, and as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and an ingredient in paints and varnishes.	<0.01 ppb 0.22 ppb	No 10000 ppb	No 10000 ppb
IsopropylbenzeneIsopropylbenzene is an intermediate in industrial chemical production, and is also used as a thinner for paints and enamels and a component of fuel; it is released from petroleum refining, evaporation and combustion.	<0.01 ppb 0.25 ppb	No 700 ppb	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
EthylbenzeneEthylbenzene is a pollutant from petroleum refineries and industrial chemical factories; it is also used to make plastics, and may be present as an impurity in some insecticides.	<0.01 ppb 0.13 ppb	No 300 ppb	No 700 ppb
TolueneToluene is a pollutant from petroleum refineries and a chemical used in plastics manufacturing as well as the pharmaceutical, paint and furniture industries.	0.03 ppb 1.76 ppb	No 150 ppb	No 1000 ppb
o-Dichlorobenzeneo-Dichlorobenzene (1,2-Dichlorobenzene) is an intermediate for making herbicides; it is discharged as a pollutant from the manufacture of agricultural chemicals.	0.11 ppb 9.55 ppb	No 420 ppb	No 600 ppb
n-Butylbenzenen-Butylbenzene is an intermediate for chemical manufacturing and a raw material for liquid crystals.	<0.01 ppb 0.28 ppb	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
CyanideCyanide is a chemical used in mining and steel/metal, plastic, and pesticide manufacturing; it is applied to roads as road salts, and small quantities occur naturally in some plants.	0.07 ppb 4.23 ppb	No 80 ppb	No 200 ppb
Strontium-90Strontium-90 is a radioactive pollutant from nuclear fallout and possibly weapons and power production.	1.22 pCi/L 1.22 pCi/L	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
ChlorateChlorate is a disinfection byproduct (unregulated chlorine dioxide byproduct), an herbicide and a pollutant from explosives.	65 ppb 65 ppb	No	Legal at any levelThis is the Federal Limit. State Limits may be lower.
Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L)Beta particles are a form of radiation frequently associated with nuclear testing and radioactive mineral deposits.	2.8 pCi/L 2.8 pCi/L	No	No 15 pCi/L
NOTE: Each dot in the above graph represents one month. * Water utilities are noted as exceeding the legal limit if any test is above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Most MCLs are based on annual averages so exceeding the MCL for one test does not necessarily indicate that the system is out of compliance.

Contaminants Not Detected - 142 chemicals

1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 1,4-Dioxane, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Dioxin), 2,4,5-t, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-d, 2,4-db, 2-Chloroethylvinyl ether, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, 4,4-dde, Acetone, Acifluorfen (Blazer), Alachlor (Lasso), Aldicarb, Aldicarb sulfone, Aldicarb sulfoxide, Aldrin, alpha-Lindane, Aroclor 1221, Aroclor 1232, Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1248, Aroclor 1254, Aroclor 1260, Asbestos, Atrazine, Baygon (Propoxur), Bentazon (Basagran), Benzene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Beryllium (total), beta-Lindane, Bromacil, Bromobenzene, Bromochloromethane, Bromomethane, Butachlor, Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbon tetrachloride, Chlordane, Chloroethane, Chloromethane, Chlorothalonil (Bravo), Chlorpropham, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, Dacthal, Dalapon, delta-BHC, Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Di-n-octylphthalate, Diazinon (Spectracide), Dibenz[a,h]anthracene, Dibromomethane, Dicamba, Dichlorprop, Dieldrin, Dimethoate, Dinoseb, Diphenamide, Diquat, Disulfoton, Diuron, Endosulfan I, Endosulfan II, Endosulfan Sulfate, Endothall, Endrin, Endrin Aldehyde, EPTC (Eptam), Ethyl-t-butyl ether (ETBE), Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Glyphosate, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorobutadiene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Isopropyl ether, Lindane, m-Dichlorobenzene, Mercury (total inorganic), Methiocarb, Methomyl, Methoxychlor, Methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Molinate (Ordram), Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), Mtbe, n-Nitrosodimethylamine, n-Propylbenzene, Naphthalene, o-Chlorotoluene, o-Xylene, Oxamyl (Vydate), p,p'-DDT, p-Chlorotoluene, p-Dichlorobenzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, Pentachlorophenol, Picloram, Prometon, Prometryn, Propachlor, sec-Butylbenzene, Silver (total), Simazine, Styrene, Terbacil, Tert-Amyl-Methyl Ether, Tert-Butyl Alcohol, tert-Butylbenzene, Thiobencarb (Bolero), Total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Trichlorotrifluoroethane, Trifluralin, Tritium, Vinyl chloride, Xylenes (total)

Pollution Summary

43	Total Contaminants Detected (2004 - 2009) Aluminum, Chlorate, Barium (total), Cadmium (total), Chromium (total), Copper, Cyanide, Manganese, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Antimony (total), Chromium (hexavalent), Thallium (total), Dichlorodifluoromethane, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, n-Butylbenzene, Chloroform, o-Dichlorobenzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Isopropylbenzene, m- & p- Xylene, Strontium-90, Combined Uranium (pCi/L), Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L), Arsenic (total), Lead (total), Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrate, 1,3-Dichloropropene, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Bromoform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, Radon, Radium-226, Radium-228, Alpha particle activity, Perchlorate
12	Agricultural Pollutants (pesticides, fertilizer, factory farms) Chlorate, Cyanide, Nitrite, Selenium (total), o-Dichlorobenzene, Ethylbenzene, Arsenic (total), Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrate, 1,3-Dichloropropene, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), Perchlorate
12	Sprawl and Urban Pollutants (road runoff, lawn pesticides, human waste) Nitrate, Copper, Nitrate & nitrite, Lead (total), Arsenic (total), Tetrachloroethylene, Nitrite, Cadmium (total), Antimony (total), m- & p- Xylene, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Cyanide
33	Industrial Pollutants Aluminum, Chlorate, Barium (total), Cadmium (total), Chromium (total), Cyanide, Manganese, Nitrite, Selenium (total), Antimony (total), Chromium (hexavalent), Thallium (total), Dichlorodifluoromethane, cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, n-Butylbenzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Isopropylbenzene, m- & p- Xylene, Strontium-90, Combined Uranium (pCi/L), Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L), Arsenic (total), Lead (total), Nitrate & nitrite, Nitrate, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, Radium-226, Radium-228, Alpha particle activity, Perchlorate
7	Water Treatment and Distribution Byproducts (pipes and fixtures, treatment chemicals and byproducts) Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Bromoform, Cadmium (total), Chlorate
19	Naturally Occurring (naturally present but increased for lands denuded by sprawl, agriculture, or industrial development) Nitrate, Copper, Nitrate & nitrite, Barium (total), Lead (total), Arsenic (total), Manganese, Radium-228, Radium-226, Alpha particle activity, Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L), Combined Uranium (pCi/L), Chromium (total), Aluminum, Selenium (total), Nitrite, Radon, Chromium (hexavalent), Cyanide
9	Unregulated Contaminants EPA has not established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for these contaminants Chlorate, Dichlorodifluoromethane, n-Butylbenzene, Isopropylbenzene, Strontium-90, Lead (total), 1,3-Dichloropropene, Radon, Perchlorate

EPA Violation Summary

No violations were reported for this system since 2004.

Information on violations is drawn directly from EPA's national violations database in the Agency's Safe Drinking Water Information System. Analyses by others have raised questions about the quality of the information in EPA's database. For the purposes of this investigation, EWG is not showing below or including in our analyses, those violations for individual water suppliers that occurred on days for which the total number of violations assigned by EPA to that water supplier was greater than 20. This criteria was based on common characteristics of incorrect violations data as identified by water utilities, from a review of EPA's violations data by several hundred utilities prior to the release of EWG's investigation.