Is South Gate, CA tap water safe?

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

City of South Gate Water Dept., 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.

5 public water systems serve parts of South Gate. The largest, City of South Gate Water Dept., serves 88,544 people, and 2 systems here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of South Gate Water Dept.

88,544 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID CA1910152

Buys treated water from City of Lynwood Water Dept., City of Huntington Park Water Dept., Metropolitan Water District of SO. Cal., Golden State Water Company – Hollydale, Walnut Park Mutual Water Company, City of Downey Water Dept..

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Above limit	9.05 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFOS Above limit	24 ppt	4 ppt	Above limit
PFHxS Detected, below limit	5.35 ppt	10 ppt	Detected, below limit
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 95% of the California systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 97% of the California systems EPA tested.

Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full City of South Gate Water Dept. 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.

South Gate homes and lead pipes

83%

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

47%

built before 1950 (California 14%)

55%

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 South Gate city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving South Gate

Golden State Water Company – Florence/Graham
63,472 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
Lithium above screening level
Golden State Water Company – Bell, Bell Gardens
55,050 people · Purchased surface water · California · reported ZIPs here
PFOS above limitAlso: PFHxS detected · Lithium above screening level
Walnut Park Mutual Water Company
16,180 people · Groundwater · California · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits
Golden State Water Company – Hollydale
8,099 people · Groundwater · California · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Lynwood 1 mi City of Lynwood Water Dept.	City of Lynwood Water Dept.	Above limit	0 ppb
Bell Gardens 3 mi California Water Service – East Los Angeles	California Water Service – East Los Angeles	Above limit	0 ppb
Huntington Park 3 mi Golden State Water Company – Florence/Graham	Golden State Water Company – Florence/Graham	None above limits	0 ppb
Paramount 3 mi City of Paramount Water Dept.	City of Paramount Water Dept.	None above limits	0 ppb
Downey 4 mi City of Downey Water Dept.	City of Downey Water Dept.	Above limit	0 ppb
Compton 4 mi Golden State Water Company – Southwest	Golden State Water Company – Southwest	None above limits	1.7 ppb

South Gate ZIP codes (1)

90280

Questions

Is South Gate tap water safe to drink?

City of South Gate Water Dept. 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 South Gate, CA?

5 public water systems serve parts of South Gate. The largest is City of South Gate Water Dept. (88,544 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does South Gate tap water have PFAS?

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

Do South Gate homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 83% of South Gate 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. City of South Gate Water Dept.'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.