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Community Water System · PWS CA1910152

South Gate-City, Water Dept.

South Gate, California 90280 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 76,443 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

76,443
People served
127
EPA violations
4
Health-based
6 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 127 drinking-water violations at South Gate-City, Water Dept., 3% of them health-based - above the California per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds.

127
Total EPA violations on record
3%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
76,443
People served by this system
6
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: South Gate-City, Water Dept.

South Gate-City, Water Dept. is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 76,443 residents in South Gate, California (Los Angeles County) through 14,442 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 127 total violations for this system , of which 4 (3%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 108 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2018.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Chromium, recorded in 2 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 6 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 26 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across California, EPA tracks 7,249 public water systems serving 42,404,883 people, with 153,308 cumulative violations and 63,983 health-based violations on record. About 89% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 21.1 violations. Statewide, 447 of 694 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (64.4%).

South Gate-City, Water Dept.'s 127 violations sit above the California average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

6 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
76,443
Total Violations
127
Health-Based Violations
4
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
14,442
County
Los Angeles
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
4
Monitoring Violations
108
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Chromium MCL 2 2000
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2000
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 2 2017
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2017
Xylenes, Total MR 2 2017
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 2017
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 2017
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2017
Carbon tetrachloride MR 2 2017
Trichloroethylene MR 2 2017
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 2 2017
Toluene MR 2 2017
Styrene MR 2 2017
Endrin MR 2 2018
Methoxychlor MR 2 2018
Dalapon MR 2 2018
Diquat MR 2 2018
Endothall MR 2 2018
Glyphosate MR 2 2018
Simazine MR 2 2018
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 2 2018
Carbofuran MR 2 2018
Heptachlor epoxide MR 2 2018
2,4-D MR 2 2018
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 2 2018
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 2 2018
Pentachlorophenol MR 2 2018
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 2 2018
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 2 2018
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 2 2018

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 22 of 290 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFTA 9/28/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/28/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/28/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/28/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/13/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/13/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/13/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/13/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/13/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/13/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/13/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/13/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/13/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/13/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/13/2023 6.30 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/13/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for South Gate-City, Water Dept..

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID CA1910152 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

California Drinking Water Authority

California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects South Gate-City, Water Dept. under EPA-delegated authority.

Open CA regulator portal

Source: California State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2018 Endrin MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2005
2018 Methoxychlor MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2015
2018 Dalapon MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2031
2018 Diquat MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2032
2018 Endothall MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2033
2018 Glyphosate MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2034
2018 Simazine MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2037
2018 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2039
2018 Carbofuran MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2046
2018 Heptachlor epoxide MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2067
2018 2,4-D MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2105
2018 HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2274
2018 Benzo(a)pyrene MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2306
2018 Pentachlorophenol MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2326
2018 Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 2 SDWIS / CA1910152 / 2383

How South Gate-City, Water Dept. Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric South Gate-City, Water Dept. California avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 127 21.1 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 4 8.8 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 6 compounds 64.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 76,443 5,850 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 7,249 regulated public water systems in California.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is South Gate-City, Water Dept. water safe to drink? ▼
South Gate-City, Water Dept. (PWS ID: CA1910152) has 127 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 6 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 76,443 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does South Gate-City, Water Dept. serve? ▼
South Gate-City, Water Dept. serves 76,443 people in South Gate, California. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 14,442 service connections.
What type of violations does South Gate-City, Water Dept. have? ▼
South Gate-City, Water Dept. has 127 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 108 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in South Gate-City, Water Dept. water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds in South Gate-City, Water Dept.'s water supply: PFPeA, PFOS, PFBS, PFOA, PFHxA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does South Gate-City, Water Dept. use? ▼
South Gate-City, Water Dept. uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.