Los Angeles County tap water: hardness, PFAS and lead

Los Angeles County, California has about 9,757,179 residents (Census 2024 estimate) and 199 community water systems in EPA records. The largest local system is Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power, serving about 3,875,566 people from surface water.

✓ 0 of 6 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 2 of 6 sampled systemsHardness 6.0 gpg (high confidence)

Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

How hard is Los Angeles County water?

Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power Measured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence

6.0 gpg (103 mg/L, LA Aqueduct Filtration Plant), moderately hard · range 96–117 mg/L

Source: LOS ANGELES-CITY, DEPT. OF WATER & POWER water quality report, 2025

Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

Softener size at 6 gpg

For a 3-person home using 57 gallons per person per day and regenerating weekly, you'd remove about 7,182 grains between regenerations. Suggested size: 24,000 grain.

Estimate only. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

Open the softener calculator with 6 gpg

Largest water systems in Los Angeles County

The 6 biggest of 199 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.

Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power

CA1910067 · serves about 3,875,566 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action level✓ No PFAS detected

Lead 90th percentile: 3.9 ppb (period starting 2021-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Long Beach Utilities Department

CA1910065 · serves about 466,772 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action level✓ No PFAS detected

Lead 90th percentile: 1 ppb (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency

CA1910240 · serves about 292,014 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (8 types)

Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFPeA: highest sample 22.6 ppt (9 of 18 samples); no federal limit
  • PFOA: highest sample 16.9 ppt (7 of 18 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
  • PFHxA: highest sample 14.2 ppt (8 of 18 samples); no federal limit
  • PFBA: highest sample 13.3 ppt (9 of 18 samples); no federal limit
  • PFHxS: highest sample 7.6 ppt (6 of 18 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
  • PFOS: highest sample 7.5 ppt (5 of 18 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
  • PFBS: highest sample 6.9 ppt (6 of 18 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
  • PFHpA: highest sample 6.3 ppt (5 of 18 samples); no federal limit

EPA ECHO record

Gswc - Southwest

CA1910155 · serves about 277,740 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action level✓ No PFAS detected

Lead 90th percentile: 1.7 ppb (period starting 2024-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

San Gabriel Valley Water Co.-El Monte

CA1910039 · serves about 240,000 people · Groundwater

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below detectionPFAS detected (2 types)

Lead 90th percentile: <DL (below the lab detection/reporting limit; reported as 0) (period starting 2024-01-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

  • PFBA: highest sample 10 ppt (1 of 18 samples); no federal limit
  • PFPeA: highest sample 5.6 ppt (1 of 18 samples); no federal limit

EPA ECHO record

Los Angeles Cwwd 40 Reg 4 & 34 Lancaster

CA1910070 · serves about 208,129 people · Surface water

✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action level✓ No PFAS detected

Lead 90th percentile: 1.8 ppb (period starting 2023-01-01) Older result. Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).

EPA ECHO record

Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.

A PFAS detection is not a violation. Federal limits (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS) apply to running annual averages, with compliance required by 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS deadline to 2031 and removing other PFAS limits; not final as of 2026-10-21.

Test your own tap

These are public records for whole systems. Your home's pipes, fixtures and any private well can change what you drink. A certified lab test or a hardness test strip gives you your own numbers. Then use our PFAS and lead filter selector to see which certifications to look for.

Common questions about Los Angeles County water

Is tap water in Los Angeles County safe to drink?

None of the 6 largest systems here have a health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021. Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power's most recent lead 90th percentile was 3.9 ppb (2021), below the 15 ppb action level. Public records can't guarantee what comes out of your tap, especially with older plumbing, so a home test is the surest check.

How hard is the water in Los Angeles County?

Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power reports about 6.0 grains per gallon (103 mg/L), which is moderately hard. For a 3-person home at 6 gpg, our softener calculator suggests a 24,000 grain unit as a starting point.

Is there PFAS in Los Angeles County water?

2 of the 6 sampled systems listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, and 2 results were above the level of a federal limit in at least one sample. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.

Which water system serves my address in Los Angeles County?

Most homes are served by Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power or one of the other systems listed on this page, but service areas don't follow county lines. Your water bill names your provider, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report has the full test results.

More California counties

Sources for this page

Data as of October 21, 2026. Figures are copied from public records and combined with our own calculations; they can be out of date or wrong. Tapped Out isn't affiliated with any utility or the EPA. Written and reviewed by the Tapped Out team. How we calculate · All sources.