Is Compton, CA tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Golden State Water Company – Southwest.

7 public water systems serve parts of Compton. The largest, Golden State Water Company – Southwest, serves 277,740 people, and 3 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Golden State Water Company – Southwest

277,740 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID CA1910155

Buys treated water from Liberty Utilities – Compton, City of Inglewood Water Dept., Hawthorne-City Water Dept., Metropolitan Water District of SO. Cal., City of Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power, California Water Service – Dominguez.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 1.7 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Golden State Water Company – Southwest results

Across California, 129 of 691 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 26 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. California results.

Compton homes and lead pipes

77%

of homes built before 1980 (California 56%, US 50%)

30%

built before 1950 (California 14%)

44%

of households rent (California 44%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Compton city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Compton
Golden State Water Company – Southwest 277,740 people	90220, 90222
California Water Service – Dominguez 149,490 people	90221

Other water systems serving Compton

California Water Service – Dominguez
149,490 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
PFHxS detectedAlso: Lithium above screening level
City of Compton Water Dept.
90,986 people · Purchased surface water · California · lists this city
PFOS above limitAlso: PFOA detected · PFHxS detected · Lithium above screening level
Liberty Utilities – Compton
26,316 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
Lithium above screening level
Liberty Utilities – Lynwood
24,649 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS above limit · PFHxS detected · Lithium above screening level
Golden State Water Company – Willowbrook
10,793 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
Lithium above screening level
Suburban Water Systems – Sativa
4,372 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
PFOS above limitAlso: PFHxS detected

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Lynwood 3 mi City of Lynwood Water Dept.	City of Lynwood Water Dept.	Above limit	0 ppb
Paramount 4 mi City of Paramount Water Dept.	City of Paramount Water Dept.	None above limits	0 ppb
Carson 4 mi Golden State Water Company – Southwest	Golden State Water Company – Southwest	None above limits	1.7 ppb
South Gate 4 mi City of South Gate Water Dept.	City of South Gate Water Dept.	Above limit	0 ppb
Gardena 5 mi Golden State Water Company – Southwest	Golden State Water Company – Southwest	None above limits	1.7 ppb
Bellflower 6 mi Liberty Utilities – Bellflower-Norwalk	Liberty Utilities – Bellflower-Norwalk	Above limit	0 ppb

Questions

Is Compton tap water safe to drink?

Golden State Water Company – Southwest has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Compton, CA?

7 public water systems serve parts of Compton. The largest is Golden State Water Company – Southwest (277,740 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Compton tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Golden State Water Company – Southwest had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.

Do Compton homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 77% of Compton homes as built before 1980 (California: 56%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Golden State Water Company – Southwest's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.