Water Quality
San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita households receiving water from LADWP, SCV Water, and Metropolitan Water District imports have had their tap water tested for PFAS under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 program, which required testing at larger water systems starting in 2023. EPA finalized the first federal Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion each in April 2024, levels water utilities must meet by 2027. California had already set its own notification thresholds in 2019: PFOA at 5.1 ppt, PFOS at 6.5 ppt. Reverse osmosis certified to NSF/ANSI 58 removes PFAS to non-detect at the drinking tap, as confirmed by EPA treatment guidance. Here is what the public record shows about SFV and Santa Clarita water, where PFAS originates in the region's industrial history, and what families with health concerns can do now.
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PFAS made its way into the national conversation gradually, then all at once. For decades, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals) were used in firefighting foam, food packaging, non-stick coatings, and scores of industrial processes. They do not break down in the environment or in the body, which is why they carry the nickname "forever chemicals." Exposure accumulates over a lifetime. The question for SFV and Santa Clarita families is not abstract: how much PFAS is in our water, where does it come from locally, and is an in-home filter a reasonable response?
This article compiles data from publicly available EPA records, the California State Water Board, and utility consumer confidence reports. No numbers below are fabricated or estimated. Where specific utility detection values are not cited, we link directly to the agency source so you can pull current figures yourself.
What are PFAS chemicals and why do they concern Southern California families?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a broad class of synthetic chemicals linked to kidney cancer, thyroid disruption, elevated cholesterol, reduced immune response in children, and pregnancy complications at low levels of long-term exposure. The EPA's April 2024 rule notes there is no safe level of PFOA or PFOS exposure, which is why the Maximum Contaminant Goal (MCLG) for both is set to zero. The enforceable MCL of 4 ppt is set at the lowest reliably measurable level, not at a threshold considered protective.
California has been ahead of federal action on this. The State Water Board set PFOA and PFOS notification levels in 2019 and began requiring annual utility testing years before the federal rule landed. The full regulatory timeline and current notification and response levels are documented on the California State Water Board PFAS page. The federal and state standards have now broadly converged, though California's ongoing rulemaking may set tighter limits for additional compounds.
Where does PFAS enter the San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita water supply?
The SFV and Santa Clarita region has three documented pathways by which PFAS enters the environment and, from there, potentially the groundwater that local utility wells draw from.
The first is AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam), the firefighting agent used at airports, military facilities, and commercial fire-training sites. Commercial airports including Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) are required by federal aviation regulations to maintain AFFF on-site, making airports a primary PFAS source in communities served by well water near air operations. Military installations and fire-training academies in and around LA County have similar histories with AFFF use. The EPA PFAS Strategic Roadmap identifies airports and former military sites as primary groundwater contamination vectors nationally.
The second is MWD imported water. Metropolitan Water District delivers water from the Colorado River and the State Water Project to most of LA County, including blend shares for both LADWP and SCV Water. PFAS detections in MWD-imported water have historically been low relative to federal MCLs, but the EPA UCMR occurrence data portal lets you search by water system to see UCMR 5 results for any system in the database.
The third is legacy industrial use: fluoropolymer chemistry, aerospace component manufacturing, and industrial surface treatment at SFV facilities operating from the mid-20th century onward. This is the same Burbank and Glendale industrial corridor associated with the San Fernando Valley federal Superfund groundwater sites (searchable on the EPA Superfund site database). PFAS from these sources can migrate in groundwater plumes, though transport behavior differs from chlorinated solvents.
PFAS in SFV and Santa Clarita water: 2024 regulatory reference dataset
The table below compiles current regulatory benchmarks from the EPA (April 2024 final rule) and California State Water Board (2019 notification levels). These are the standards that LADWP, SCV Water, and all California utilities of more than 200 service connections must test against. Sources: Federal Register April 2024 PFAS rule and California State Water Board PFAS page.
| Compound | EPA MCL (April 2024) | CA Notification Level (2019) | Primary SFV/SCV source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 4 ppt | 5.1 ppt | Industrial coatings, non-stick manufacturing, AFFF |
| PFOS | 4 ppt | 6.5 ppt | AFFF at airports and fire training sites |
| PFNA, PFHxS, HFPO-DA, PFBS | Regulated as combined hazard index | Individual NLs under State Board development | Industrial fluorochemicals, PFOS replacement compounds |
Every California utility is required to report annual PFAS results in its Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), delivered to customers by July 1 each year. If you have not received yours, request it directly from your utility: LADWP at ladwp.com/water-quality, SCV Water at scvwater.org/water-quality. The EPA's UCMR 5 occurrence database also shows results by system for utilities covered by federal monitoring.
What does California require water utilities to test and report for PFAS?
California requires all community water systems serving more than 200 connections to test annually for PFOA, PFOS, and additional PFAS compounds under State Water Board guidance, and has since 2019. Systems with results above notification levels must notify customers within 30 days. Systems above the higher response level must provide alternative drinking water or in-system treatment within 10 days. Current notification and response levels are posted on the State Water Board PFAS page and are subject to revision as California aligns with the April 2024 federal MCLs.
The federal rule adds a floor: utilities exceeding 4 ppt PFOA or PFOS must install treatment or switch sources by 2027, with interim annual reporting required starting in 2024. The compliance schedule is in the Federal Register rule text.
Does Santa Clarita drinking water contain PFAS?
SCV Water (Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency) serves the Santa Clarita Valley with a blend of local groundwater, MWD imported water, and recycled water. The agency tests for PFAS annually and discloses results in its CCR and on its water quality page. Some SCV groundwater sources have shown PFAS detections in past testing cycles. The specific levels by well and by year are in the public record; families with health concerns should review the current CCR directly rather than any third-party summary, since results change year to year as blending ratios shift and treatment is adjusted.
For LADWP customers in the SFV, the equivalent source is the LADWP water quality report, which documents PFAS testing results for each pressure zone. The SFV is served by multiple LADWP pressure zones drawing from different well fields, and PFAS levels vary by zone. Our SFV water quality overview provides background on the LADWP supply zones serving the Valley.
What home water treatment removes PFAS reliably from tap water?
Two treatment approaches have strong independent evidence for PFAS removal at the point of use.
Reverse osmosis (RO) removes PFOA and PFOS to non-detect in systems certified to NSF/ANSI 58. EPA designates RO as best available technology (BAT) for PFOA and PFOS removal in the April 2024 rule. An under-sink RO system installed at the drinking and cooking tap provides reliable protection regardless of the incoming water's PFAS level. See our reverse osmosis service page for the systems we install across the SFV and Santa Clarita.
Activated carbon certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFAS removal also reduces PFAS, with higher adsorption for longer-chain compounds (PFOA, PFOS) than shorter-chain ones. Carbon is most effective as a point-of-use drinking water filter. At the whole-house level, a carbon pre-filter upstream of the RO extends membrane life and is standard in our combined whole-house-plus-RO installations. See our whole-house filtration service for configurations that address PFAS alongside hardness, chloramine, and other SFV contaminants the 2,000-family install dataset article documents.
Pitcher filters (Brita, ZeroWater) and standard refrigerator filters are not certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS. Some newer pitcher models claim PFAS reduction, but independent NSF certification is the only third-party verification. The NSF certified product search lets you filter by contaminant and standard.
Get a free in-home water consultation in the SFV or Santa Clarita
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How do SFV and Santa Clarita families check their specific PFAS results?
Three public sources document the numbers for your specific utility. First: your annual CCR, required by California to be delivered by July 1 each year and posted on utility websites. Second: the EPA UCMR 5 occurrence database, searchable by state, water system name, or PWSID (the utility's federal identifier). Third: the California State Water Board Division of Drinking Water's electronic annual reporting database, which shows PFAS results by system and year back to 2019 when state monitoring began.
For a result at the tap specifically (not the distribution system entry point), an in-home test from a state-certified laboratory is the only way to get that measurement. Contact the California State Water Board lab certification database to find a certified lab for PFAS testing. UpTown Cares can discuss testing options as part of a free in-home consultation; contact us to schedule.
Is Santa Clarita tap water safe to drink?
SCV Water publicly reports PFAS test results in its annual Consumer Confidence Report and on its water quality page at scvwater.org. The utility is required to notify customers and provide alternative water if results exceed California response levels. Review the current CCR directly for the most recent annual test results by source and distribution point, as values change with blending and treatment.
What PFAS level requires a California water utility to act?
California sets notification levels (NL) at which utilities must inform customers and response levels (RL) at which utilities must provide treatment or alternative supply. Current values for PFOA, PFOS, and additional PFAS are posted on the State Water Board PFAS page at waterboards.ca.gov and are subject to revision as California finalizes alignment with the April 2024 federal MCLs.
Does a Brita or refrigerator filter remove PFAS from drinking water?
Standard pitcher and refrigerator filters are not certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFAS removal. Some newer pitcher models claim PFAS reduction without independent NSF certification. An NSF/ANSI 58 certified under-sink reverse osmosis system is the treatment option EPA designates as best available technology for PFOA and PFOS at the residential point of use.
How long does an under-sink RO system last for PFAS removal in the SFV?
RO membranes in the San Fernando Valley typically need replacement every 2 to 3 years given regional hardness of 15 to 25 grains per gallon, which accelerates scaling. Pre-filters (sediment and carbon) need annual replacement. A softener or scale-inhibition pre-filter upstream of the RO significantly extends membrane life. UpTown Cares includes membrane service intervals in every RO installation.
Last updated: July 21, 2026. Regulatory values are subject to change. Verify current standards with the EPA PFAS drinking water page and the California State Water Board PFAS page.
Related reading: Reverse Osmosis Systems · Whole-House Filtration · Water Testing · SFV Water Quality Overview · Service Areas · What 2,000 Installs Taught Us About SFV Water · Chloramine in SFV Water · California Water Quality Rules 2026 · Contact · FAQ
