How do I check drinking water quality for a Los Angeles address?
Short answer: Find out which water system serves the address (it is named on the water bill), then read that system’s annual water quality report, also called a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). In the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) publishes its Drinking Water Quality Report at ladwp.com.
Find the right report
- Identify the water system. LADWP serves the City of Los Angeles. If the bill for the address comes from a different water company, use that company’s report instead.
- Read the report. LADWP posts its annual Drinking Water Quality Report and archived reports from earlier years on its website. LADWP’s report notes it is "also known as a Consumer Confidence Report" and is "required by the State Water Resources Control Board."
- If you cannot find your system’s report, EPA says: "You can either call your local water supplier or you may also find your report using EPA’s CCR search tool."
Reading the table
Most reports show one row per detected contaminant. Look at the level detected (and its range), the MCL, which is the enforceable legal limit, and the MCLG, which is the non-enforceable health goal. California reports also compare results with state Public Health Goals (PHGs). Watch the units and the sample year, and check the "violation" column.
LADWP’s monitoring tables "include only substances with values that are detected." A report covers the water system, not the plumbing inside your building.
What Ground Report checks here, and what it doesn’t
The free score checks:
- Records for the public water system serving the address, from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), including lead and copper sampling and violations. For some systems it also uses the EWG Tap Water Database. Readings are compared against the named legal limit or health guideline.
It does not check:
- Water at your own tap, or plumbing inside your building.
- Private wells. These are labeled "Limited data".
- It does not replace your CCR. Your utility’s report is the official annual record.
Sources
- LADWP — L.A.’s Drinking Water Quality Report
- LADWP — 2025 Drinking Water Quality Report: Monitoring Results
- LADWP — 2025 Drinking Water Quality Report: General Information
- EPA — CCR Information for Consumers
- California State Water Board — Consumer Confidence Reports
Sources last reviewed 2026-10-28. Quotes are taken from the linked pages. This page is general information, not a home inspection, a water test or an official flood determination.
Related questions
- How do I check if my home has lead pipes?
- What do EPA radon Zones 1, 2 and 3 mean?
- How do I find my FEMA flood zone?
- How do I read my water quality report (CCR)?
- How do I check if a Los Angeles address is in a FEMA flood zone?
- Is Los Angeles in a high radon zone?
- How do I check if a Los Angeles address is near a Superfund site?