Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Los Angeles, California
Tap water in Los Angeles, California receives a grade of C (70/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by LOS ANGELES-CITY, DEPT. OF WATER & POWER. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Los Angeles's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Los Angeles.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.29 ppb, 572x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 36.2 ppb, 362x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 11.0 ppb, 184x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for LOS ANGELES-CITY, DEPT. OF WATER & POWER (system ID CA1910067) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for Los Angeles
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Los Angeles's water supply.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Los Angeles's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.29 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 572× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 184× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
27.1 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 181× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
2.8 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 28× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.248 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.71 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
3.04 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 7.1× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.909 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 6.5× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.266 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
77.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0174 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.00821 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.16 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.31 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0207 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.065 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.538 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
9e-06 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
99.5 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.0401 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.734 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
57.6 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine Other |
0.0005 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from LOS ANGELES-CITY, DEPT. OF WATER & POWER.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Los Angeles's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: