Health Violations Found CA 18 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power

EPA ID: CA1910067 · 3,875,566 people served · 175 ZIP codes

Tallying the federal enforcement file for Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power yields 18 open violations that have not been formally closed — each finding sits in the EPA database while the utility continues to deliver water to approximately 3,875,566 residents and works through the required corrective action process.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 68
Avg Safety Score
3,875,566
People Served
175
ZIP Codes Served
18
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.015 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
5
Contaminants Flagged
$907K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 4 (2021) to 39 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$88,958
Median Household Income
4,656,990
Service Area Population
49%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
20th
Energy Burden Percentile
79%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power serves a community with a median household income of $88,958 and an estimated 4,656,990 residents across its service area. Approximately 79% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 49% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Los Angeles County, California rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

61 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
9 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 87% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power compares to EPA limits

Combined Radium 17 pCi/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 5 pCi/L
Barium 5 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 2 mg/L

What This Means For You

Combined Radium at 17 pCi/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 5 pCi/L.

Barium at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 2 mg/L.

Contaminant 3000 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 83 detections recorded. 17 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 13 exceed state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.0051 ppt, PFOS: 0.0065 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in California

C 18 violations
City of San Diego,
1,385,379 people
C 13 violations
San Jose Water
1,039,920 people
B 2 violations
C 7 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration PFAS Treatment Lead Pipe Replacement
Flood Insurance $864
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $175
PFAS Treatment $67
Lead Pipe Replacement $57
Total Estimated Cost $1,563

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Property Value Decline $45,350

5% of median home value (EPA est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$30,340
10 years
$60,680
20 years
$121,360

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,563 (one-time) vs. $60,680 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power (EPA ID: CA1910067) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 3,875,566 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 175 ZIP codes across 53 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (68/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

18 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 18 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
April 1, 2025 Barium Health-based Unresolved
January 1, 2025 Combined Radium Health-based Unresolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Health-based Unresolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved
October 1, 2024 Combined Radium Health-based Unresolved
July 1, 2024 Combined Radium Health-based Unresolved
April 1, 2024 Barium Health-based Unresolved
April 1, 2024 Combined Radium Health-based Unresolved
January 1, 2024 Barium Health-based Unresolved
January 1, 2024 Combined Radium Health-based Unresolved
October 1, 2023 Combined Radium Health-based Unresolved
July 1, 2023 Contaminant 3000 Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Combined Radium Health-based Unresolved
April 1, 2023 Combined Radium Health-based Unresolved
January 1, 2023 Combined Radium Health-based Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Combined Radium Radionuclides 17 Yes
Barium Inorganic 5 Yes
Contaminant 3000 Other Violation 2 Yes
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 Yes
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
91316 0.015 mg/L No N/A
91436 0.015 mg/L No N/A
90275 0.005 mg/L No N/A
90001 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90002 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90003 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90004 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90005 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90006 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90007 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90008 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90009 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90010 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90011 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90012 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90013 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90014 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90015 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90016 0.0039 mg/L No N/A
90017 0.0039 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 133 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 42 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

This system serves 175 ZIP codes:

90001 · 90002 · 90003 · 90004 · 90005 90006 · 90007 · 90008 · 90009 · 90010 90011 · 90012 · 90013 · 90014 · 90015 90016 · 90017 · 90018 · 90019 · 90020 90021 · 90022 · 90023 · 90024 · 90025 90026 · 90027 · 90028 · 90029 · 90030 90031 · 90032 · 90033 · 90034 · 90035 90036 · 90037 · 90038 · 90039 · 90040 90041 · 90042 · 90043 · 90044 · 90045 90046 · 90047 · 90048 · 90049 · 90050 90051 · 90052 · 90053 · 90054 · 90055 90056 · 90057 · 90058 · 90059 · 90060 90061 · 90062 · 90063 · 90064 · 90065 90066 · 90067 · 90068 · 90069 · 90070 90071 · 90072 · 90073 · 90074 · 90075 90076 · 90077 · 90078 · 90079 · 90080 90081 · 90082 · 90083 · 90084 · 90086 90087 · 90088 · 90089 · 90090 · 90091 90093 · 90094 · 90095 · 90096 · 90099 90101 · 90103 · 90189 · 90210 · 90211 90212 · 90230 · 90231 · 90232 · 90233 90247 · 90248 · 90272 · 90275 · 90291 90292 · 90293 · 90295 · 90296 · 90302 90305 · 90402 · 90501 · 90502 · 90710 90717 · 90731 · 90732 · 90733 · 90734 90744 · 90748 · 90749 · 91030 · 91040 91042 · 91214 · 91302 · 91303 · 91304 91306 · 91307 · 91311 · 91316 · 91321 91324 · 91325 · 91326 · 91330 · 91331 91335 · 91340 · 91342 · 91343 · 91344 91345 · 91352 · 91356 · 91364 · 91367 91371 · 91401 · 91402 · 91403 · 91405 91406 · 91411 · 91423 · 91436 · 91504 91505 · 91601 · 91602 · 91604 · 91605 91606 · 91607 · 91608 · 91610 · 91759

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power (CA1910067) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power water safe to drink?

Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power has recorded 18 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power serve?

Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power serves approximately 3,875,566 people across 175 ZIP codes in California.

Where does Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Contact information from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Blended (groundwater + surface water)
Combines water from both groundwater and surface sources.
Disinfectant used
Chloramines
Treatment chemicals reported
chloraminepolymer

Source: Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Multi-stage
Multiple treatment stages — typically coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Common for surface-water systems requiring removal of particulates, microorganisms, and dissolved organic compounds before disinfection.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chloramine
Coagulant
Causes suspended particles to clump together so they can be removed by filtration.
polymer

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
464

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
744,960
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 7,751,132
Reported to California

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power safe to drink?
Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power has a C safety grade based on 18 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power's water?
Detected contaminants include Combined Radium, Barium, Contaminant 3000, Stage 2 DBP Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power serve?
Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power serves approximately 3,875,566 people with drinking water across 175 ZIP codes.
What is Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power's water source?
Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.015 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power's service area?
The Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power service area has a median household income of $88,958. EPA EJScreen data classifies 49% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power get its water?
Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power (EPA ID: CA1910067) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

Home Water Systems California Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power

Get safety alerts for Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power, California

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Violations found — check filter options Free tool — no phone call required.