Tap water in our cities meets federal standards, but meeting minimum federal standards and achieving the highest level of water purity are two very different goals.
Your city's water utility delivers water that meets EPA minimums. But those minimums were written decades ago[1] and don't account for emerging contaminants like PFAS "forever chemicals," trace pharmaceuticals, or the long-term effects of dozens of low-level exposures. The journey through city pipes and the disinfection chemicals used in large-scale treatment can leave behind trace byproducts. Water can be perfectly legal and still contain things you'd rather not drink.
Southern California tap water is generally safe by law, but Environmental Working Group (EWG) research has identified these substances at levels that, according to their health guidelines, may warrant concern over long-term exposure.[10]
Added intentionally to kill bacteria during distribution. Residual chlorine reacts with organic matter to form disinfection byproducts like trihalomethanes, which are linked to cancer and reproductive harm at prolonged exposure levels.[2]
Disinfection ByproductLeaches from aging service pipes and household plumbing, especially in homes built before 1986.[3] There is no safe level of lead exposure for children[4] — it causes permanent neurological damage even at trace concentrations.
Heavy MetalPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances don't break down in the environment or the body. Linked to cancer, thyroid disruption, and immune system suppression.[5] Standard municipal treatment is generally not designed to remove PFAS compounds.
Emerging ContaminantAgricultural fertilizer and septic runoff. The EPA limit is 10 mg/L[2] — but EWG research links levels above 0.14 mg/L to increased cancer risk over time.[6] Especially dangerous for infants and pregnant women.[2]
Agricultural RunoffThe "Erin Brockovich" chemical. A known human carcinogen[7] found in California tap water.[8] The state's legal limit remains far above the level EWG considers safe based on current peer-reviewed cancer risk research.
CarcinogenHormones, antibiotics, and other medications pass through the body and wastewater treatment largely unchanged.[9] Standard municipal filtration is not designed to remove pharmaceutical compounds from drinking water.
Micro-contaminantEnter your California city to identify your water utility and get a direct link to their full EWG tap water quality report — showing every detected contaminant and how it compares to health guidelines.
California cities only — powered by the California State Water Resources Control Board.
For cities outside of California please visit the EWG at (https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/)
At Linh's we don't rely on one filter. Our system layers multiple proven technologies in sequence. What each stage misses, the next one catches.
The first line of defense. Captures rust particles, sand, silt, and the microscopic debris that flakes off aging municipal pipes. These filters protect every downstream stage from premature wear.[11]
RemovesActivated carbon chemically bonds to chlorine, chloramines, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), stripping out the chemical taste and smell that makes tap water unpleasant.[12][13]
RemovesSouthern California has notoriously hard water. Hard water is high in calcium and magnesium. This stage softens the water, protecting the Reverse Osmosis membrane from mineral scale buildup and giving the final product its smooth, clean mouthfeel.[14][13]
RemovesThe gold standard in water purification. Water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane with pores so small (0.0001 microns) that virtually nothing but water molecules pass through. This blocks heavy metals, PFAS, nitrates, arsenic, chromium-6, and trace pharmaceuticals.[15][16]
RemovesA final, chemical-free kill step. Ultraviolet light scrambles the DNA of any remaining bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms; delivering biologically safe water without adding a single chemical back into the supply.[17][18]
EliminatesOur multi-stage system is essentially a "refinement" factory! It takes generic tap water and turns it into high-purity drinking water. Unfiltered tap water is treated with chlorine or chloramines to kill bacteria, but it often retains Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), heavy metals, and a harsh taste. Our state-of-the-art system tackles these systematically, so every gallon you take home is clean, crisp, and free of the trace contaminants that can remain within legal limits after standard municipal treatment.
The EPA sets Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) that are legally enforceable, but many of which haven't been updated in decades, according to public EPA records.[1] The Environmental Working Group (EWG) sets guidelines based purely on current health science, and the difference is significant.
| EPA Legal Limits | EWG Health Guidelines | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Balancing health with treatment costs and technical feasibility. | Prioritizing long-term health, especially for children and infants. |
| Basis of Limits | Often based on outdated science. Some standards are over 20 years old. | Based on the most recent independent toxicological studies. |
| Chemical Focus | Regulates approximately 90 contaminants.[1] | Tracks hundreds of emerging "forever chemicals" (PFAS) and microplastics. |
| Legal Status | Legally binding for all city utilities. | Voluntary "gold standard" for genuinely pure water. |
The legal limit for Chromium-6 or Nitrates might be "safe" according to the law, but EWG's peer-reviewed research suggests that even trace amounts, well below legal limits, can increase long-term health risks. At Linh's Water & General Store our system goes beyond what municipal treatment is required to remove, targeting trace contaminants that remain within legal limits.
At Linh's, we believe water is the foundation of a healthy life in our community. We don't aim to meet the bare minimum. We aim for total purity.
Stop by Linh's Water & General Store for freshly filtered Reverse Osmosis or Alkaline water. Our water is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Our machine is always running so your family and business always has access to freshly filtered, highly purified water.
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We'd love to see you. Stop by anytime! Our water vending machine is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
1113 West Gardena Blvd, Ste. B
Gardena, CA 90247
Open 24 hrs · 365 days a year
Mon – Sun · 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM
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