Tap water and home risks
Is Los Angeles tap water safe?
Los Angeles's main water supplier is Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power, serving about 3,875,566 people from surface water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs). Here is what EPA's public records show, as of October 2026.
PFAS results
Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power was tested for 29 PFAS compounds between December 2023 and September 2024. None was detected. PFOA and PFOS stayed at or below EPA's 4 ng/L limit.
| Compound | Highest result | EPA limit | Detected |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS | not detected | 4 ng/L | 0 of 16 samples |
| PFOA | not detected | 4 ng/L | 0 of 16 samples |
EPA's limits of 4 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS were set in 2024; utilities must meet them by April 2029 (EPA has proposed allowing some systems until 2031). These results come from EPA's UCMR 5 screening program, not compliance tests. Compounds not shown were tested and not detected.
Lead and copper
In the most recent round of home tap sampling (December 2023), 90% of samples had 3.9 ppb of lead or less. The federal action level is 15 ppb; EPA's health goal for lead is zero.
| Sampling period ended | Lead, 90th percentile |
|---|---|
| December 2023 | 3.9 ppb |
| December 2020 | 5 ppb |
| December 2019 | 4.3 ppb |
| December 2018 | 5.2 ppb |
| December 2015 | 6.3 ppb |
| December 2012 | 9.2 ppb |
| December 2009 | 6 ppb |
| December 2006 | 10 ppb |
The 90th percentile is the level that 90% of sampled homes were at or below. It describes the system, not your tap.
Health-based violations since 2016
EPA records 2 health-based violations for Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power since January 2016, all resolved or closed.
| Began | Contaminant or rule | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2018 | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment technique | Resolved |
| January 2016 | Groundwater Rule | Treatment technique | Resolved |
Radon in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County is in EPA radon Zone 2 (moderate potential). Radon is a gas from the ground that enters homes through the foundation; the zone describes the area's potential, not your house. EPA recommends testing every home.
What you can do
- Lead usually comes from a home's own service line and pipes, not the treatment plant. If your home was built before 1986, ask Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & Power for your service line material or test your tap.
- Radon varies house to house even in moderate zones. EPA recommends testing every home.
Check a ZIP code
Some neighborhoods in Los Angeles get water from a different system. Enter your ZIP to see the systems and county that cover it.
Other cities in California
Sources: EPA ECHO Safe Drinking Water Act data (2026Q3, published October 2026), EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data (August 2026), EPA Map of Radon Zones, US Census Bureau Vintage 2024 estimates. See the methodology.