Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
Long Beach Water Authority
Long Beach Water Authority delivers tap water graded C (67/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 467,000 residents in Long Beach, California using surface water (purchased) from the Metropolitan Water District. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Chromium-6 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (213) 413-8607.
Is Long Beach tap water safe to drink?
Long Beach Water Authority delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 467,000 residents in Long Beach, drawing from surface water (purchased) (Metropolitan Water District) and disinfecting with chloramine.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: PFOA, PFOA, PFOA, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate, Nitrate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for Long Beach Water Authority.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPFOA, PFOA detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.16 ppb.
Contact Long Beach Water Authority
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants, test results, or your Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for Long Beach
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Chromium-6 requires reverse osmosis for reliable removal. Standard carbon filters do not address it.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 67/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA Organic |
2.65 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 2022 | 662× over |
| PFOA Organic |
2.13 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 2023 | 532× over |
| PFOA Organic |
2.1 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 2024 | 525× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
37.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2022 | 374× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2023 | 369× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
34.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2024 | 349× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
27.2 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 45× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
22.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2024 | 37× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
18.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2022 | 31× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.168 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2022 | 8.4× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.16 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2024 | 8.0× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.152 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2023 | 7.6× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.017 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2022 | 7.3× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.9 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2024 | 6.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.74 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2023 | 5.3× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
22.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 37× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
34.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 349× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.16 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 8.0× over |
| PFOA Organic |
2.1 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 525× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.9 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 6.4× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
27.2 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 45× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 369× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.152 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 7.6× over |
| PFOA Organic |
2.13 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 532× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.74 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 5.3× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
18.7 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 31× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
37.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 374× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.168 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 8.4× over |
| PFOA Organic |
2.65 ppt | 0.004 | 4 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | 662× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.017 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 7.3× over |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database, and Long Beach Water Authority's Consumer Confidence Report.
Long Beach Water Authority service area
This water system serves 1 community in Los Angeles County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for Long Beach water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.