PFOS
6.5× the limitPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid
26ng/L
Each block = 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
EPA UCMR 5 · sampled 2024Evidence
City water report · 2026
Is Norwalk Tap Water Safe? 2026 Water Quality Report
Short answer: Two PFAS, PFOA and PFOS, are above their federal limits (2024 limits that water systems have until at least 2029 to meet); lithium sits above a screening level. Norwalk - City, Water Dept. serves 20,283 residents.
Listed match
NORWALK - CITY, WATER DEPT. serves Norwalk
EPA lists this system for the city. Your water bill or annual water quality report names your actual supplier.
- Source
- Surface water
- Lead service lines
- 0 lead, 551 galvanized, 33 unknown
Source: EPA SDWIS 2026Q2.
- NORWALK - CITY, WATER DEPT.This reportCA1910191 · 20,283 served
What stands out
Two PFAS above the 2024 federal limit
Each bar is drawn in blocks of the 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024), so the length shows how far above it the result sits.
PFOA
1.3× the limitPerfluorooctanoic acid
5.2ng/L
Each block = 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
EPA UCMR 5 · sampled 2024Evidence
Coverage by group
31 results on record- PFAS (forever chemicals)2 above · 3 detected · 24 not detected
- Metals & lead1 not detected
- Disinfection by-productsNot monitored
- Other1 above
Every detected result
6 detected results, by distance from their limit
NORWALK - CITY, WATER DEPT. (EPA PWSID CA1910191) delivers surface water to 20,283 residents. This report reflects 29 individual PFAS result(s) from the source UCMR5 observations and the latest Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile result. Water hardness and disinfectant type are pending the utility's own annual report.
- Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)EPA UCMR 5 · 20244.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)26ng/LAbove limit
- LithiumEPA UCMR 5 · 202410 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)59µg/LAbove screening
- Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)EPA UCMR 5 · 20244.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)5.2ng/LAbove limit
- Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)EPA UCMR 5 · 202410 ng/L federal MCL (2024)7.6ng/LWithin reference
- Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)EPA UCMR 5 · 2024No federal or state limit; shown for transparency5.6ng/LDetected · no limit
- Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)EPA UCMR 5 · 2024No federal or state limit; shown for transparency3.4ng/LDetected · no limit
25 other contaminants tested, none detected
- 11Cl-PF3OUdS
- 4:2 FTS
- 6:2 FTS
- 8:2 FTS
- 9Cl-PF3ONS
- ADONA
- HFPO-DA (GenX)
- NEtFOSAA
- NFDHA
- NMeFOSAA
- PFBS
- PFDA
- PFDoA
- PFEESA
- PFHpA
- PFHpS
- PFHxA
- PFMBA
- PFMPA
- PFNA
- PFPeS
- PFTA
- PFTrDA
- PFUnA
- Lead (90th percentile)
Track record
0health-based violations in the last 10 years
From EPA SDWIS. A clean violation history means no enforcement action was recorded; it does not cover contaminants without a limit.
Not in this recordDisinfection by-products weren't monitored in this dataset
No result is not a pass. Your utility's annual water quality report may list them, and a certified lab test covers your own tap.
What you can do
Test first, then treat what was found
- 01 · TestTest your own tap
Plumbing inside a home can add lead that the system record can't show. A tap test tells you what reaches your glass.
Certified labHow to test your tap → - 02 · Treat PFASReverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS
PFOS 26 ng/L, above the 4 ng/L limit (+4 more PFAS detected)
NSF/ANSI 58 or 53, with PFOA/PFOS/PFHxS/PFBA/PFPeA named on the listingTreatment for PFAS → - 03 · LeadLead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis
551 galvanized lines to replace
NSF/ANSI 53 (lead)Treatment for Lead →
Test your own tap
Screening tells you if something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.
As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.
Screening: quick check, not lab-grade
Safe Home DIY Lead in Drinking Water Combo Test Kit
Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)
Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb
- Turnaround: 5 minutes
What it can't tell you: It shows a lead range, not an exact level, and tests nothing else unless you pay extra for the optional lab test.
Lab-certified results
ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit
ETR Laboratories
50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria
- Analyzed by Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories (ETR Labs), Leominster, MA · ISO/IEC 17025:2017, ANAB certificate AT-2638
- Turnaround: 2–4 business days after the lab receives it
What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.
Commercial
Certified for a concern found here
Each card names which Norwalk findings its current certification covers, and which it doesn't.
As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. A product appears here only when a current certification record covers at least one identified concern; every concern stays listed. The retail offer is looked up afterwards and never changes which products appear or their order. Affiliate disclosure.
Under-Sink Filter
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Lithium, PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and 1 more
Not suitable for (5)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
- Renters who can't modify plumbing
Countertop System
Aquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Lithium, PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and 1 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
See all 9 products certified for a Norwalk concern →
Countertop System
AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Lithium, PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and 1 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Under-Sink Filter
Under-Sink Reverse-Osmosis System
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Lithium, PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and 1 more
Not suitable for (5)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
- Renters who can't modify plumbing
Under-Sink Filter
Waterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Lithium, PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and 1 more
Not suitable for (5)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
- Renters who can't modify plumbing
Refrigerator Filter
Whirlpool Filter 3 Refrigerator Water Filter (WHR3RXD1)
- PFOA: eligible, evidence match
- PFOS: eligible, evidence match
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: Lithium, PFHxS, Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and 1 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Water Pitcher
Culligan ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ZEROP10)
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: PFOA, PFOS, Lithium and 3 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Faucet Attachment
Faucet-Mount Filter
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: PFOA, PFOS, Lithium and 3 more
Not suitable for (3)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
Under-Sink Filter
Under-Sink Carbon Block Filter
- Lead: eligible, evidence match
- Not established: PFOA, PFOS, Lithium and 3 more
Not suitable for (4)
- Treating every tap in the home
- A whole-home hard-water or scale problem
- All PFAS: its evidence covers only the compounds it names
- Anyone who can't plumb, drill or hire an installer
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Norwalk tap water safe to drink?
PurityMap does not give a safe/unsafe verdict; it shows what the public records measured. For Norwalk, PFOS 26 ng/L and PFOA 5.2 ng/L were measured above the 4 ng/L federal limit in EPA's 2024 testing. NORWALK - CITY, WATER DEPT. (PWSID CA1910191) has a Purity Score of 57/100 (confidence: moderate), assessed at the water-system level and computed only from contaminants that were measured. Water can change in your own pipes, so a certified test is the only way to know what comes out of your tap.
Who provides tap water in Norwalk?
NORWALK - CITY, WATER DEPT. (PWS ID CA1910191) is the public water system on record for Norwalk, California, serving about 20,283 people. Confirm the utility on your water bill before acting on a specific finding.
Where does Norwalk get its drinking water?
Surface water (primary source of record in EPA SDWIS).
Are PFAS "forever chemicals" in Norwalk's water?
Yes. In EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20), PFOS was measured at 26 ng/L against a 4 ng/L federal limit and PFOA was measured at 5.2 ng/L against a 4 ng/L federal limit. PFHxS was detected below its limit. PFBA (5.6 ng/L) and PFPeA (3.4 ng/L) were also detected; they have no federal or state limit. Reverse osmosis and filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA/PFOS reduce them at the tap.
Is there lead in Norwalk's tap water?
Lead is not in Norwalk's current published record. Lead usually enters from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so a certified home test is the way to know yours.
What does the latest Norwalk water report show?
PurityMap's current record for Norwalk holds 31 findings: 3 above a reference, 1 detected within the reference, 2 detected with no limit and 25 not detected. Each finding links to its dated public record; a parameter that was never monitored is shown as pending, not as a pass.
Follow this water
Follow Norwalk's water
One email when a new sampling round is published, a result moves above or below its reference, or the system's score changes.
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Sources and dataAll 31 records and their sourcesEPA UCMR 5 · EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule)
25 other contaminants tested — none detected
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
- Result
- 26 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
- Result
- 59 µg/L
- Benchmark
- 10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
- Result
- 5.2 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)
- Result
- 7.6 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
- Result
- 5.6 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)
- Result
- 3.4 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
25 other contaminants tested — none detected
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)
- Result
- < 2 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
- Result
- Non-Detect (ND)
- Benchmark
- 15 µg/L federal action level
- Sampled
- 2020–2022 monitoring period
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)
- Result
- < 5 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
- Result
- < 6 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)
- Result
- < 20 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)
- Result
- < 4 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)Screening level, not a legal limit
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)
- Result
- < 3 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state)
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
- Result
- < 4 ng/L
- Benchmark
- 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
- Result
- < 4 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)
- Result
- < 8 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)
- Result
- < 7 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)
- Result
- < 2 ng/L
- Benchmark
- No federal or state limit; shown for transparency
- Sampled
- 2024-02-27 to 2024-11-20
Every value is the published result from the cited public record. A reporting limit is the lowest level the method could reliably quantify; a non-detect is not a guarantee of zero.
UCMR5 Analytical Results
UCMR5 Analytical Results: NORWALK - CITY, WATER DEPT. (CA1910191)
US EPA
State SDWIS Compliance Record
Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: NORWALK - CITY, WATER DEPT. (CA1910191)
US EPA SDWIS
Methodology: how we analyze water. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the PurityMap Editorial Team before publication.
Something off with your water's smell, color or taste?
Start with the hot-or-cold tap check. Where Norwalk - City, Water Dept. reported something related, it's shown below.
- Rotten-egg smell
- Cloudy or milky water
- Chlorine smell
- Brown or yellow water
- Metallic taste
Lead at Norwalk - City, Water Dept.: not detected (90th percentile, 2020–2022 monitoring period). Lead has no taste, so a taste neither shows nor rules it out.