Torrance, CA Water Quality Report
Is Torrance tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Torrance, California. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Torrance, CA tap water safe to drink? Torrance, CA tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 3.3 ppt across 1 compound. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Torrance, CA water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Torrance water: PFHxS (3.5 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Torrance, CA? Match the filter to what's in California water: reverse osmosis handles PFAS, lead, and arsenic together (90%+ removal); pitchers certified to NSF-53 for PFAS like ZeroWater or PUR PLUS cover taps you drink from. A standard Brita pitcher will not remove PFAS.
Torrance, CA Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Torrance, CA drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 3.5 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 3.3 ppt across 1 detected compound. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.
Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.
Top Detected Compounds
- PFHxS: 3.5 ppt
Lead in Torrance, CA Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 26 lead samples for Torrance water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0052 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Torrance, CA
Torrance public water systems have 2 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Ground Water Rule, Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national PFAS survey of US drinking water, covering about 10,000 public water systems. Population of Torrance, CA: approximately 145,438.
ZIP Codes Served
What Torrance, California Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- If anyone in your household is pregnant or under 5, prioritize a certified PFAS filter now and consider a home test kit
- For long-term protection, an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system removes 94-99% of PFAS
- Read the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) your California utility publishes each year