Whittier, CA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 57/100
11 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Whittier: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
The C shown for Whittier, CA is an average of Home Safety Scores across the city's ZIP codes; that composite blends several data sources, so it can move for reasons unrelated to water, and it is not a measurement of what comes out of any tap in the city.
How Whittier Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Whittier, CA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Whittier's 6 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Whittier Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 24 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0003 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $583 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.71.
Whittier's Water Providers
Federal records list 9 water systems tied to Whittier, CA. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- D
- D
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 11 ZIP codes in Whittier, California (population ~187,139), covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 557,768 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 11 ZIP codes.
2 of 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (33%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Whittier: C (57/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Whittier water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0003 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 6 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
11 of 11 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 3 | 2 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 3 | 2 |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 3 | 2 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90606 | D | 24 | 0 | San Gabriel Valley Water Company-el Monte |
| 90601 | C | 3 | 0 | Whittier-city, Water Department |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90602 | C | Whittier-city, Water Department | 49,954 |
| 90603 | C | Suburban Water Systems-whittier | 66,045 |
| 90604 | C | Suburban Water Systems-whittier | 66,045 |
| 90605 | C | Suburban Water Systems-whittier | 66,045 |
All ZIP Codes in Whittier
- 90601 [C] - 3 violations
- 90602 [C]
- 90603 [C]
- 90604 [C]
- 90605 [C]
- 90606 [D] - 24 violations
- 90607
- 90608
- 90609
- 90610
- 90612
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Whittier Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Whittier's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Whittier
In Whittier, estimated remediation comes to 1% or less of the median home value.
Estimated remediation costs in Whittier can be compared with local home values. The $383–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 1% below the California average.
Whittier: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Available area-level lead records for Whittier do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Whittier: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Whittier contains 16 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $4,550. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 40% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $583 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Whittier
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For E. coli, listed in the water-quality records for Whittier: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Whittier, CA