Can I Drink Tap Water in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles tap water is officially safe to drink according to LADWP, which tests water at over 300 monitoring locations for 200+ contaminants daily. However, the water is notably hard (150-300 ppm) with elevated chromium-6 levels in some areas. Occasional boil water notices affect specific neighborhoods during emergencies. The water comes from mixed sources: imported aqueduct water (73%), groundwater (10%), surface water, and recycled water.

Los Angeles obtains its water from multiple sources managed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP): the Los Angeles Aqueduct (which brings snowmelt from Mono Basin and Owens Valley over 200 miles), imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California via the Colorado River Aqueduct, and local groundwater from the San Fernando, Sylmar, Eagle Rock, Central, and West Coast Basins. In 2024, the Los Angeles Aqueduct supplied 59% of water treated at the filtration plant, with 73% of overall supply coming from imported sources. LADWP operates 30+ treatment facilities employing multiple methods including ozonation, UV light, chlorination, and granular activated carbon treatment. All surface water is filtered and disinfected with ozone, UV light, and chlorine. The water meets all EPA and California maximum contaminant levels for regulated substances. However, independent testing reveals 24 contaminants detected in the system, with nine exceeding EWG health-based limits. Most concerning is chromium-6 at 2.8 ppb, which is 140 times higher than California's negligible cancer risk level of 0.02 ppb. Water hardness ranges from 56-220 mg/L across service zones, averaging 150-300 ppm, making it moderately hard to very hard due to high calcium and magnesium content. This hardness is primarily from groundwater sources and can cause scale buildup in appliances. While six PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO) have not been detected in the main distribution system, historical industrial activity and firefighting contamination in Southeast Los Angeles and the LA River have resulted in elevated PFAS levels in certain areas and groundwater wells. Lead can accumulate in older service lines and plumbing, affecting approximately 10% of water samples tested above 5 ppb. Occasional localized boil water notices have been issued for areas like Pacific Palisades (zip 90272) during water system emergencies such as low pressure events or valve failures. LADWP maintains water quality through continuous monitoring and customers are advised to flush pipes for 30 seconds if water has not been used for more than 6 hours to reduce lead exposure.

Visitors to Los Angeles can safely drink tap water in most areas. However, if you have a sensitive stomach, are immune-compromised, or visiting during winter months when boil notices are more common, consider purchasing bottled water ($1-2 per bottle at convenience stores, readily available everywhere). In hotels and restaurants, tap water is safe to drink. Do not drink tap water if you are in Pacific Palisades (90272) during a boil water notice. The water's hardness may cause temporary digestive effects for visitors unaccustomed to hard water.