Whittier, CA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 59/100
11 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Whittier: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Although much of Whittier meets baseline drinking water standards, some CA-tracked service areas show violations that merit a closer look - particularly for older housing stock.
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 in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0003 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,427 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.71.
Whittier's Water Providers
In Whittier, CA, residential water supply is distributed across multiple utilities rather than concentrated in one. The 3 leading providers out of 9 tracked systems each control their own infrastructure, file separate EPA compliance reports, and set independent rate schedules.
- 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 (59/100)
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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 11 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 3 | 2 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 3 | 2 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 3 | 2 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 2 | 1 |
| PFNA | PFAS | 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 | B | 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 [B] - 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). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
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
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Whittier, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Whittier are relatively low compared to home values. The $682–$2,282 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 1% below the California average.
Whittier: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Lead risk in Whittier appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. 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 <strong>$1,427</strong> 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. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Total Coliform can reduce the most common contaminant found in Whittier's water.
- 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