Is La Mirada, CA tap water safe?

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

Suburban Water Systems-Whittier, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA, PFOS) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

3 public water systems serve parts of La Mirada. The largest, Suburban Water Systems-Whittier, serves 66,565 people, and 2 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Suburban Water Systems-Whittier

66,565 people · Groundwater · EPA ID CA1910174

Buys treated water from City of Whittier Water Dept., La Habra Heights County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of SO. Cal., San Gabriel Valley Water Company – El Monte, California Domestic Water Company.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	6.25 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	12.5 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
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.

For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 91% of the California systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 91% of the California systems EPA tested.

Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Suburban Water Systems-Whittier 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.

La Mirada homes and lead pipes

80%

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

built before 1950 (California 14%)

24%

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. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for La Mirada 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 La Mirada
Suburban Water Systems-Whittier 66,565 people	90638
Suburban Water Systems-la Mirada 57,240 people	90639

Other water systems serving La Mirada

Suburban Water Systems-la Mirada
57,240 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
PFOA above limitAlso: PFOS above limit · PFHxS detected · Lithium above screening level
Golden State Water Company – Norwalk
43,167 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
Lithium above screening level

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Buena Park 3 mi City of Buena Park	City of Buena Park	Above limit	0 ppb
La Habra 4 mi Suburban Water Systems-Whittier	Suburban Water Systems-Whittier	Above limit	0 ppb
Cerritos 4 mi Golden State Water Company – Artesia	Golden State Water Company – Artesia	Above limit	0 ppb
Norwalk 4 mi Liberty Utilities – Bellflower-Norwalk	Liberty Utilities – Bellflower-Norwalk	Above limit	0 ppb
Whittier 5 mi San Gabriel Valley Water Company – El Monte	San Gabriel Valley Water Company – El Monte	None above limits	0 ppb
Fullerton 5 mi City of Fullerton	City of Fullerton	Above limit	1.5 ppb

Questions

Is La Mirada tap water safe to drink?

Suburban Water Systems-Whittier has had no health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. 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 La Mirada, CA?

3 public water systems serve parts of La Mirada. The largest is Suburban Water Systems-Whittier (66,565 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does La Mirada tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA and PFOS at Suburban Water Systems-Whittier. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do La Mirada homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 80% of La Mirada 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. Suburban Water Systems-Whittier'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.