Check Your ZIP Code’s Tap Water Safety Grade (A–F) & Exact Filter Match
Los Angeles, CA (ZIP 90017)
Los Angeles (ZIP 90017, LADWP) tap water earns a D+ grade due to San Fernando Basin groundwater PFOA/PFOS detections (4.6 ppt vs 4.0 ppt EPA limit), trace Arsenic and Chromium-6, chloramine disinfection byproducts (46.2 ppb TTHMs), and ~280 ppm TDS (16.4 gpg) mineral hardness.
Why Bottled Water & Pitchers Lose to NSF-58 Reverse Osmosis
- 240,000+ nanoplastic particles per liter in PET bottles
- Unregulated under EPA Safe Drinking Water Act
- Heavy weekly hauling & plastic waste
- 0% removal of dissolved hardness minerals (TDS)
- Standard granular carbon misses short-chain PFAS & fluoride
- 40-gallon media saturates every 4–6 weeks
- 99.4% PFOA/PFOS, lead, chromium-6, arsenic & TDS removal
- 800 GPD tankless direct-flow (fills 8 oz glass in 5 sec)
- 2-second twist-and-lock cartridge swap twice a year
Lab-Verified Filters Matched to EPA UCMR5 Contaminants
We only list systems with verifiable NSF/ANSI 58 (Reverse Osmosis), NSF/ANSI 53 (Health Effects / Lead / PFAS), or NSF/ANSI 372 (Lead-Free) certifications. No unverified magnetic descalers or generic carbon cartridges.
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
- Certifications: NSF/ANSI 58, 53, 42 & 372 + SGS Tested
- Target Contaminants: 99.4% PFAS (PFOA/PFOS), Lead, Fluoride, Arsenic, Nitrates & TDS
- Flow & Efficiency: 800 GPD tankless design with 3:1 pure-to-drain ratio + UV-LED sterilizer
- Best For: Homeowners in C, D, or F grade ZIP codes wanting instant kitchen drinking/cooking protection
SpringWell CF1 + SS1 Combo
- Certifications: NSF/ANSI 42, 61 & 372 Catalytic Coconut Shell Carbon + ActivFlo
- Target Contaminants: 99.6% Chlorine, Chloramines, PFAS, Haloacetic Acids, TTHMs & Limescale
- Flow Rate: 9–20 GPM zero-pressure-drop flow for 1 to 6+ bathrooms
- Best For: Hard-water & chloramine cities (Phoenix, Las Vegas, LA, San Diego, Houston, Tampa)
AquaTru Carafe / Classic RO
- Certifications: IAPMO Tested to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 58, 401 & P473 (PFAS)
- Target Contaminants: 83+ regulated & unregulated contaminants including PFOA, PFOS, Lead & Chromium-6
- Setup: Plugs into standard 120V outlet; glass carafe fits directly in refrigerator
- Best For: Apartments, condos & renters who cannot drill a kitchen sink faucet hole
15 Major US Metro Tap Water Grades (EPA UCMR5 + SDWIS + USGS)
Compare measured PFOA+PFOS parts per trillion (ppt), 90th-percentile household lead (ppb), and water hardness grains per gallon (gpg) across the 15 most-searched US water utilities.
| City & Water Utility | Safety Grade | PFAS (PFOA+PFOS) | Lead (90th %ile) | Hardness (gpg / mg/L) | Full Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) |
Grade D+ | 4.6 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 3.4 ppb | 16.4 gpg (280 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Phoenix, AZ City of Phoenix Water Services Department |
Grade D+ | 5.4 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 4.1 ppb | 16.8 gpg (287 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Houston, TX City of Houston Public Works Drinking Water Operations |
Grade D | 6.2 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 5.2 ppb | 9.1 gpg (156 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) |
Grade D+ | 3.9 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 2.8 ppb | 17.5 gpg (299 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Miami, FL Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (MDWASD) |
Grade D | 7.8 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 4.9 ppb | 5.4 gpg (92 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Chicago, IL City of Chicago Department of Water Management |
Grade C- | 2.4 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 8.9 ppb | 8.2 gpg (140 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| San Diego, CA City of San Diego Public Utilities Department |
Grade C- | 3.6 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 3.1 ppb | 16.1 gpg (275 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Dallas, TX Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) |
Grade C | 4.7 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 3.8 ppb | 7.9 gpg (135 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Tampa, FL City of Tampa Water Department (Tampa Bay Water) |
Grade D+ | 6.9 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 4.4 ppb | 12.6 gpg (215 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) |
Grade D+ | 5.8 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 6.4 ppb | 7.6 gpg (130 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Atlanta, GA City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management |
Grade B- | 3.5 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 2.9 ppb | 1.8 gpg (31 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Denver, CO Denver Water |
Grade B- | 2.9 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 6.8 ppb | 5.2 gpg (89 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Charlotte, NC Charlotte Water |
Grade C+ | 4.4 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 2.6 ppb | 2.1 gpg (36 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Sacramento, CA City of Sacramento Department of Utilities |
Grade C | 4.9 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 3.2 ppb | 5.8 gpg (99 mg/L) | View Fix → |
| Fresno, CA City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities |
Grade D | 6.4 ppt (EPA: 4.0) | 4.5 ppb | 11.4 gpg (195 mg/L) | View Fix → |
Free 6-Month Replacement Filter Reminder
Saturated carbon pre-filters allow PFAS and chlorine breakthrough after 6 months (causing membrane fouling). Pick your system below and we will email your exact OEM cartridge match when it is time to swap.
Claim the Exclusive City Water Specialist Slot ($149/mo)
Are you a state-licensed C-36 / Master Plumber or WQA-certified water treatment installer? Lock in the single Featured Local Installer spot on your city's tap water report page for $149/month flat—zero per-lead bidding wars.
Tap Water Grades, EPA PFAS Limits & Filtration Science
What is the 2026 EPA PFAS limit for drinking water?
Under the US EPA’s final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, the legally enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) each for PFOA and PFOS, with a non-enforceable health goal (MCLG) of 0.0 ppt. Public utilities have until 2029–2031 to finish capital treatment upgrades, meaning millions of households currently receive water above 4.0 ppt today.
Does a standardfridge or pitcher filter remove PFAS and hard water?
Most standard activated-carbon pitchers and refrigerator filters are only certified to NSF/ANSI 42 (chlorine taste and odor). They remove 0% of water hardness minerals and allow short-chain PFAS breakthrough once their small 40-gallon media bed saturates. An NSF/ANSI 58 Reverse Osmosis membrane removes up to 99.4% of PFAS, lead, fluoride, and dissolved solids.
How do you calculate a city's A–F Tap Water Grade?
CleanWaterGrade weights four federal datasets: (1) EPA UCMR5 PFOA/PFOS detections vs the 4.0 ppt limit (35%), (2) EPA SDWIS 90th-percentile Lead & Copper tap filings (25%), (3) Haloacetic Acids & Total Trihalomethanes disinfection byproducts (20%), and (4) USGS Calcium/Magnesium Hardness scale risk (20%).