Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Long Beach?
Yes, tap water in Long Beach is safe to drink. Roughly 60% is local groundwater treated at the city's own plant, blended with imported Metropolitan Water District supply, and it meets EPA and California standards.
Water Source
Long Beach Utilities pumps about 60% of the city's supply from the Central groundwater basin, treated at the city's Groundwater Treatment Plant, and buys the remainder as imported Colorado River and State Water Project water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards and California's stricter state requirements, which include state-level limits on constituents like hexavalent chromium.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •PFAS compounds have been detected in parts of the regional groundwater basin, as across much of urban Southern California; wells are monitored under the EPA rule and treatment is added where needed
- •Trace disinfection byproducts are monitored and compliant
- •Imported Colorado River water carries higher mineral content, so hardness varies with the blend
Water Quality Data
Key contaminants detected vs. regulatory limits. All values from the most recent published report — Source: Long Beach Water Department 2024 CCR.
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (total) | 1.4 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Fluoride | 0.71 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 2.6 µg/L | 15.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Nitrate (as N) | 2.3 mg/L | 10.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) | 27.4 µg/L | 80.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids) | 18.9 µg/L | 60.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Chromium-6 | 0.11 µg/L | 0.02 µg/L | ⚠ |
✓ = below limit ⚠ = above health goal ✗ = exceeds guideline
How It Compares
Long Beach's majority-local groundwater supply gives it more control and lower imported-water costs than neighboring fully MWD-dependent cities, and its treatment plant lets the city polish taste and odor issues that pure-import systems can't.
Tips
- •Hardness and taste shift with the groundwater/imported blend by season
- •The utility's annual report breaks down results for both sources
- •A softener or filter is a comfort choice for hard-water spotting, not a safety need
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •US EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulations
- •EWG Tap Water Database
- •The utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality