We read 24 results from Long Beach Utilities Department’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 7 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 466,772 people · Water system ID CA1910065 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
Open this district in the water lookupCompare with your own test results, see the district map and get matched filters.
Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenicaverage · range 0.9 to 1.8 · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 14 | 1.3 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal325x the health goal |
| Bromatehighest running annual average · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 19 | 0.6 ppb | 0.1 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal6x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)as reported · MWD Zone distribution · 2025 report, page 15 | 4.3 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Gross beta (radioactivity)as reported · MWD Zone distribution · 2025 report, page 15 | 3.5 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 50 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · range ND to 0.87 · Citywide · 2025 report, page 14 | 0.87 % positive | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Total dissolved solidsaverage · range 300 to 680 · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 19 | 530 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Above the guideline1.1x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| Uraniumas reported · printed as 1.7 pCi/L · MWD Zone distribution, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 15 | 2.53 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal4.2x the health goal |
| Aluminumaverage · range 0.04 to 0.09 · printed as 70 ppb · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 14 | 0.07 ppm | — | 0.2 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Bariumaverage · printed as 94 ppb · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 14 | 0.09 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloraminehighest running annual average · range 0.33 to 2.84 · Citywide · 2025 report, page 19 | 2.15 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chlorideaverage · range 71 to 110 · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 19 | 93 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Copper90th percentile of 63 homes tested, 0 over the action level · printed as 171 ppb · Customer taps (citywide) · 2025 report, page 14 | 0.17 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 5 to 12 · Citywide · 2025 report, page 19 | 10.2 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 28 to 48 · Citywide · 2025 report, page 19 | 35 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.68 to 0.77 · Blended Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 15 | 0.72 ppm | 1 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of 63 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps (citywide) · 2025 report, page 15 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)average · range 0.12 to 0.45 · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 15 | 0.29 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| pHaverage · range 8.23 to 8.86 · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 20 | 8.44 | — | — | Normal range |
| Sulfateaverage · range 56 to 250 · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 19 | 170 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · range ND to 0.2 · MWD Zone · 2025 report, page 14 | 0.2 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Conductivityaverage · range 410 to 1,100 · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 19 | 830 µS/cm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Hardnessaverage · range 5.85 to 17.5 · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 20 | 12.9 gpg (220 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Lithiumaverage · range ND to 54 · MWD Zone (UCMR 5), highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 18 | 22.8 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumaverage · range 62 to 120 · MWD Zone, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 20 | 86 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Long Beach Utilities Department’s water between Apr 2023 and Jan 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium54 ppbFound in 6 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Gross beta (radioactivity), Uranium
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Bacteria and viruses
Found: Total coliform bacteria
What removes it: UV purification (and tell your utility).
Salty taste / high TDS
Found: Total dissolved solids
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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