Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Long Beach?
Yes, Long Beach's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Long Beach has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Long Beach's local Twitter account.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Long Beach's water utility, Long Beach-City, Water Dept, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Long Beach was resolved on Nov. 15, 2019. This assessment is based on the Long Beach-City, Water Dept water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Long Beach Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Long Beach tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Long Beach's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Long Beach Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Long Beach-City, Water Dept for Long Beach in California. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From April 1, 2017 to Nov. 15, 2019, Long Beach had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Check/Repeat/Confirmation which falls into the Chemicals rule code group, and the Volatile Organic Chemicals rule code family for the following contaminant code: Toluene.
Is there Lead in Long Beach Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Long Beach water system, Long Beach-City, Water Dept, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0015 mg/L of lead in Long Beach water. This is 10.0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Long Beach contained more lead.
While Long Beach water testing may have found 0.0015 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Long Beach Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Long Beach NS/NSY - near Long Beach with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Long Beach has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Long Beach SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/01/2017 - 11/15/2019 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Check/Repeat/Confirmation (04) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) | Toluene (2991) | Chemicals (300) | Volatile Organic Chemicals (310) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Long Beach Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Phone: | 562-570-2318 |
| By Email: | chris.garner@lbwater.org |
| By Mail: | 1800 EAST WARDLOW ROAD LONG BEACH, CA, 90807 |
Existing customers can login to their Long Beach-City, Water Dept account to pay their Long Beach water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Long Beach-City, Water Dept bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Long Beach water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Long Beach water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Long Beach means you will often need to put the water in your name with Long Beach-City, Water Dept. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Long Beach means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Long Beach-City, Water Dept. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$2.06 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Long Beach, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Long Beach Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Long Beach's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
HOME Page 1
Annual Water
Quality Report
WATER TESTING PERFORMED IN 2020
PROUDLY PRESENTED BY:
Long Beach Water Department
Award Winning Members of
Partnership for Safe Water (AWWA)
PWS ID#: 1910065
LONG BEACH BOARD OF
WATER COMMISSIONERS:
Frank Martinez, President
Art Levine, Vice President
Robert Shannon, Secretary
Gloria Cordero, Commissioner
Naomi Rainey, Commissioner
20
20
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 1
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Our water quality staff performed over 63,000 tests in 2020 and analyzed the samples for more than one hundred drinking water contaminants.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 2
CONSUMER
CONFIDENCE
REPORT 2020
Dear Customer:
We are proud to provide our community with exceptional quality drinking water.
Our skilled staff and our
We recognize that fresh water is a valuable resource. That’s why we offer innovative programs to help all of our customers adopt
We value providing exceptional customer service.
Our
We invest in the future of the community; in the fall of 2020, we released virtual youth education curriculum so families with children could continue to engage during distance learning.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call our Water Quality Laboratory at 562.570.2479 for more information. In addition, we always welcome your comments and suggestions at our Board of Water Commissioner meetings. Please visit lbwater.org to view the upcoming meeting schedule. We appreciate your reading the annual water quality report. Thank you for your time and interest.
Sincerely,
Chris Garner
HOME Page 3
The Long Beach Water Department is pleased to inform you that your tap water met all United States Environmental Protection Agency and State of California drinking water standards for 2020.
CCR DELIVERY
The Consumer Confident Report, or CCR, is an annual drinking water quality report that the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires public water systems to provide each customer. The purpose of the CCR is to inform customers about the quality of their drinking water, where their drinking water comes from, what it takes to deliver water to businesses and homes and the importance of protecting drinking water sources.
LBWD will publish the 2020 CCR electronically at
El Reporte de Confianza de los Consumidores, o CCR, es un informe anual de la calidad de agua potable que la Ley de Agua Potable Segura (SDWA) requiere LBWD para ofrecer a cada cliente. El propósito de la CCR es para aumentar la conciencia de los consumidores acerca de la calidad de su agua potable, de donde proviene, lo que se necesita para suministrar agua a las empresas y los hogares y la importancia de proteger fuentes de agua potable.
El LBWD publicará el CCR del 2020 electrónicamente, en lbwater.org/
WE ARE PROUD TO PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS WITH RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE AND EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY DRINKING WATER.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 3
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LONG BEACH DRINKING
WATER SOURCES
During 2020, approximately 47 percent of the potable water served by LBWD was supplied by local groundwater; the remaining 53 percent was supplied through purchased imported surface water. The groundwater usage was lower in 2020 compared to recent years, mainly due to the Groundwater Treatment Plant (GWTP) being offline for about two months of scheduled maintenance.
LBWD purchases treated surface water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and treats the groundwater pumped from active wells around the Long Beach and Lakewood area at GWTP. Both the purchased surface water quality and the treated groundwater quality surpass the federal and state drinking water standards. The federal regulations are set by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency
Two major aqueducts supply the surface waters feeding MWD’s five regional treatment plants. Colorado River water, which has the higher mineral content of the two supplies, is brought into Southern California through the
in Northern California through 441 miles before terminating in Southern California.
The groundwater treated at the LBWD GWTP originates from the San Gabriel watershed. The watershed is fed by
rain and snowmelt and flows through washes and creeks into the San Gabriel River and Whittier Narrows before percolating into the underground
aquifer of the central basin area of Los Angeles. The City of Long Beach is a
part of the Central Basin service area.
For hydraulic reasons, the Long Beach |
Pacific Ocean |
(Figure 1.0) |
service area may be divided into two |
|
main regions: the MWD zone, which
primarily receives purchased treated surface water, and the blended zone, which may receive a combination of treated groundwater and purchased treated surface water. LBWD sometimes changes the blends of water in our system, and the residents may notice the associated mineral content (referred to as, hardness) changes to the water quality.
Regardless of the area in Long Beach that you work or live in, LBWD’s goal is to provide water that meets or surpasses all water quality regulations at the most reasonable cost to our customers. The above figure shows the areas that may be affected by a change in the water blend.
LBWD’s goal is to provide water that meets or surpasses all water quality regulations at the most reasonable cost to our customers.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 4
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INFORMATION ABOUT DRINKING
WATER CONTAMINANTS
Drinking water sources (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As the water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, the water dissolves naturally occurring minerals - sometimes including radioactive material - and can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals and human activity.
Contaminants Present in Source Water Prior to Treatment May Include: Microbial Contaminants: such as viruses and bacteria may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural, livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic Chemicals: such as salts and metals can be naturally occurring or can result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides: may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses.
Organic Chemicals: include synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are
Radioactive materials: can be naturally occurring or can be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 5
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Regardless of the area in Long Beach that you work or live in, LBWD’s goal is to provide water that meets or surpasses all water quality regulations at the most reasonable cost to our customers.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 6
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SOURCE WATER
ASSESSMENT
As required under the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments, a source water assessment must be completed for all active drinking water sources.
The goal of the source water assessment is to inventory all potential activities that may degrade the source water quality.
LBWD purchased water in 2020 from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and City of Lakewood. MWD completed its source water assessment of its Colorado River and State Project water supplies in December 2002. The Colorado River supplies are most vulnerable to recreation, urban\storm water runoff, and increasing urbanization in watershed and wastewater. State Water Project water supplies are considered most vulnerable to urban\storm water runoff, wildlife, agriculture, recreation
and wastewater. A copy of the assessment can be obtained by contacting MWD at 213.217.6850.
The City of Lakewood Department of Water Resources completed an assessment in 2003 of all drinking water wells that served the city’s drinking water system. The sources are considered most vulnerable to current and historic gas stations, repair shops, storage tanks and dry cleaners. A copy of the complete assessment is available at the Lakewood City Clerk’s Office at 5050 Clark Avenue or by contacting the Lakewood Department of Water Resources, at 562.866.9771, extension 2700.
LBWD completed a new source water assessment on its active wells in July 2012. New wells that are constructed after this date must also undergo a similar assessment. The assessment concluded that all active wells are considered most vulnerable to the community sewer collection system. Depending on location, some wells are considered vulnerable to gas stations, dry cleaners, leaking underground fuel tanks, airport activities, metal plating/finishing/ fabrication, plastic/synthetics producers and historic landfills. Although the wells are considered vulnerable to the aforementioned activities, the LBWD performs water quality monitoring for each active well and has not detected any constituents that suggests contamination. It is noteworthy to point out that the physical barrier (well containment) has a high effectiveness against these contaminations.
Please contact the LBWD by phone at 562.570.2479 for more details or if you would like to review the assessment document.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 7
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SAMPLING RESULTS
During the past year, we have tested over 63,000 water samples in order to determine the presence of any radioactive, biological, inorganic, volatile organic, or synthetic organic contaminants. Even though all the substances in these tables are under the maximum contaminant level (MCL), it is important to include in this report the list of drinking water contaminants detected during the 2020 calendar year. The presence of these substances in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table are from the testing performed from January 1 to December 31, 2020. The State requires us to monitor for certain substances less than once per year because the concentrations of these substances do not change frequently. In these cases, the most recent sample data are included, along with the year in which the sample was taken.
LBWD WATER QUALITY DATA - CCR REPORT - YEAR 2020
Disinfection Byproducts and Maximum Residual Disinfectants, 2020
PARAMETER |
G0ALS |
REGULATORY LEVELS |
|||
|
|
|
|
||
(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
PHG |
MCL |
2nd MCL |
NL |
|
|
|||||
|
(MCLG) |
|
|
(AL) |
|
Bromate (ppb) |
0.1 |
10 |
NS |
NS |
|
Haloacetic Acids |
NS |
60 |
NS |
NS |
|
(HAA5) (ppb) |
|||||
NS |
80 |
NS |
NS |
||
(TTHM) (ppb) |
|||||
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|
|
|
||
Chloramines (ppm) |
MRDL=4.0 |
MRDLG= |
NS |
NS |
|
4.0 |
|||||
(as Cl2) |
|||||
|
(as Cl2) |
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|
||
|
|
|
|
||
MWD ZONE (114) |
BLENDED ZONE (325) |
MWD Jensen plant effluent running annual average (RAA) was 4.4 ppb in 2020; LBWD distribution system RAA is less than 0.5ppb in 2020
TYPICAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION
Byproduct of drinking water ozonation
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Drinking water disinfectant added during treatment
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 8
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Regulated Primary Health Standards, 2020
PARAMETER |
GOALS |
REGULATORY LEVELS |
MWD ZONE (114) |
BLENDED ZONE (325) |
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(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
PHG |
MCL |
2nd MCL |
NL (AL) |
AVE |
MAX |
RANGE |
AVE |
MAX |
RANGE |
|
||||||||||
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(MCLG) |
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CLARITY |
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|
Turbidity 2 (NTU) |
NA |
TT |
5 |
NS |
ND |
0.10 |
ND – 0.10 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
Turbidity2 (Lowest monthly percent of samples meeting limit) = 100% |
|
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|||||
TYPICAL SOURCES OF
CONTAMINATION
Soil Runoff
MICROBIOLOGY (% POSITIVE)
Total Coliform Bacteria 4 |
(0) |
5% |
NS |
|
INORGANIC CHEMICALS |
|
|
|
|
Aluminum (ppb) |
600 |
|
200 |
|
|
1000 |
|||
Arsenic (ppb) |
0.004 |
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|
NS |
|
10 |
|||
Copper 1 (ppb) |
300 |
|
NS |
1000 |
|
||||
Fluoride (ppm) |
1 |
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|
NS |
|
2 |
|||
Lead1 (ppb) |
0.2 |
|
NS |
NS |
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||||
NS |
|
|||||
NS |
142 |
190 |
71 - 190 |
50 |
130 |
ND – 130 |
NS |
ND |
2.5 |
ND – 2.5 |
ND |
ND |
ND |
(1300) |
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0 sites over Action Level (AL = 1300) |
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NS |
0.7 |
0.8 |
0.7 – 0.8 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
0.7 – 0.8 |
-
City-wide: 90th percentile = <DLR, 83 sites sampled; 0 sites over Action Level (AL = 15)
Naturally present in the environment
Erosion of natural deposits, added during water treatment
Erosion of natural deposits, runoff from orchards and industrial process
Corrosion of plumbing, erosion of natural deposits
Erosion of natural deposits, supplemental additive
Internal corrosion of household plumbing, erosion of natural deposits
Unregulated Contaminants with NL, but No MCLs, 2020
PARAMETER |
G0ALS |
REGULATORY LEVELS |
MWD ZONE (114) |
BLENDED ZONE (325) |
TYPICAL SOURCES OF |
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(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
PHG |
MCL |
2nd MCL |
NL |
DS* |
MWD PLANT |
DS* |
RANGE |
CONTAMINATION |
|
|
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(MCLG) |
|
|
(AL) |
|
EFFLUENT RANGE |
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Boron3 (ppb) |
NS |
NS |
NS |
1000 |
130 |
NA |
120 |
NA |
Naturally present in the |
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|
|
|
|
environment |
Chlorate3 (ppb) |
NS |
NS |
NS |
800 |
93 |
MWD system- |
16 |
NA |
Byproduct of drinking water |
wide5: 27 - 76 |
chlorination; industrial process |
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Nitrosodimethylamine |
3 |
NS |
NS |
10 |
6.1 |
MWD system- |
4.1 |
NA |
Formed through natrual, |
(NDMA)3 (ppt) |
wide5: ND - 5.2 |
industrial and disinfection process |
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*DS = Distribution System; Single value from LBWD annual monitoring
Radiologicals, 2020
PARAMETER |
G0ALS |
REGULATORY LEVELS |
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(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
PHG |
MCL |
2nd MCL |
NL |
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|||||
|
(MCLG) |
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|
(AL) |
|
Gross Alpha (GA)3 |
(0) |
15 |
NS |
NS |
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Particle Activity (pCi/L) |
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Gross Beta (GB)3 |
(0) |
50 |
NS |
NS |
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Particle Activity (pCi/L) |
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Uranium (pCi/L)3 |
0.43 |
20 |
NS |
NS |
|
MWD ZONE (114) |
BLENDED ZONE (325) |
MWD plant effluents Gross Alpha detected in the range of ND - 3 pCi/L.6 Gross Alpha detected in the MWD Zone of LBWD distribution at 3.8 pCi/L
MWD plant effluents Gross Beta detected in the range of ND - 7 pCi/L.6 Gross Beta was detected in the MWD Zone of LBWD distribution at 6.5 pCi/L
MWD plant effluents Uranium detected in the range of 1 - 3 pCi/L.6 Uranium detected in the MWD Zone of LBWD distribution at 2.7 pCi/L
TYPICAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION
Erosion of natural deposits
Decay of natural and
Erosion of natural deposits
Health Effects Language: Certain minerals are radioactive and may emit forms of radiation known as alpha, beta and photons. Some people who drink water containing alpha, beta and photon emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer. SWRCB considers 50 pCi/L to be the level of concern for beta particles.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 9
HOME |
Page 10 |
During 2020, approximately
47 percent of the potable water served by LBWD was supplied by local groundwater; the remaining
53 percent was supplied through purchased imported surface water.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 10
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Page 11 |
Secondary Drinking Water Standards – Aesthetic Standards, 2020
PARAMETER |
2ND MCL |
|
MWD ZONE (114) |
|
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|
||
(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
|
AVE. |
MAX |
RANGE |
|
|
|||
Chloride (ppm) |
500 |
91 |
100 |
75 - 100 |
Color (CU) |
15 |
ND |
2 |
ND – 2 |
(ƒS/cm) |
1600 |
930 |
1020 |
450 - 1020 |
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|
|
|
Odor3 (TON) |
3 |
ND |
NA |
NA |
Sulfate (ppm) |
500 |
210 |
230 |
140 - 230 |
Total Dissolved Solids (ppm) |
1000 |
600 |
650 |
460 - 650 |
BLENDED ZONE (325) |
TYPICAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION |
|||
AVE. |
MAX |
RANGE |
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|
||||
58 |
96 |
45 – 96 |
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; seawater |
|
influence |
||||
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2 |
4 |
ND – 4 |
||
620 |
980 |
410 - 980 |
Substances that form ions when dissolved in water; |
|
1 |
NA |
NA |
||
89 |
230 |
22 - 230 |
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits; industrial |
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wastes |
||||
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390 |
820 |
240 - 820 |
Runoff/leaching from natural deposits |
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Additional Constituents of Interest, 2020
PARAMETER |
|
MWD ZONE (114) |
|
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BLENDED ZONE 325 |
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|
(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
AVE. |
MAX |
RANGE |
AVE. |
MAX |
RANGE |
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Alkalinity (ppm) |
117 |
125 |
92 - 125 |
129 |
136 |
112 |
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Calcium (ppm) |
62 |
67 |
44 |
- 67 |
35 |
64 |
25 - 64 |
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|
|
|
Hardness (ppm) |
218 |
270 |
131 |
- 270 |
126 |
263 |
56 - 263 |
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|
|
|
|
|
Hardness (gpg) |
12.7 |
15.7 |
7.6 - 15.7 |
7.3 |
15.3 |
3.3 - 15.3 |
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|
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|
Magnesium (ppm) |
24 |
26 |
18 |
- 26 |
10 |
25 |
3 - 25 |
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|
pH (field) |
8.16 |
8.41 |
8.08 - 8.41 |
8.20 |
8.40 |
8.10 - 8.40 |
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Potassium (ppm) |
4.6 |
4.9 |
3.6 |
- 4.9 |
2.4 |
4.7 |
1.4 - 4.7 |
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Silica (ppm) |
7.3 |
9.1 |
5.0 - 9.1 |
14 |
18.3 |
5.9 - 18.3 |
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Sodium (ppm) |
90 |
95 |
69 |
- 95 |
74 |
92 |
64 - 92 |
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Unregulated Chemicals Requiring Monitoring Under Federal UCMR4:
PARAMETER |
HA |
MCL (NL) |
PHG |
MWD ZONE (114) |
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WTP EFFLUENT |
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WTP INFLUENT |
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(UNIT OF MEASURE) |
PPB |
PPB |
PPB |
AVE. |
MAX |
RANGE |
AVE. |
MAX RANGE |
AVE. |
MAX |
RANGE |
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Germanium (ppb)* |
NS |
NS |
NS |
ND |
ND |
ND |
0.42 |
0.43 |
0.41 - |
0.5 |
0.55 |
0.45 - 0.55 |
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0.43 |
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Manganese (ppb)* |
NS |
50 |
NS |
1.5 |
2.5 |
0.49 - |
1.9 |
2.6 |
0.95 - |
1.1 |
1.3 |
0.86 - 1.3 |
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2.5 |
2.6 |
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HAA5 (ppb)* |
NS |
60 |
NS |
10.59 |
14.74 |
6.85 - |
10.4 |
13.17 |
8.67 - |
NA |
NA |
NA |
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14.74 |
13.17 |
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HAA6Br (ppb)* |
NS |
NS |
NS |
10.16 |
12.66 |
6.7 - |
9.74 |
11.63 |
7.22 - |
NA |
NA |
NA |
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12.66 |
11.63 |
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HAA9 (ppb)* |
NS |
NS |
NS |
17.7 |
23.5 |
11.5 - |
17.4 |
21.1 |
15 - |
NA |
NA |
NA |
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23.5 |
21.1 |
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Unregulated contaminant monitoring under the USEPA helps to determine where certain contaminants occur and whether the contaminants need to be regulated. *Germanium, Manganese, HAA5, HAA6Br and HAA9 were detected under the UCMR4 Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring in 2018- 2020. LBWD will report these results each CCR year (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024) for five years.
HA = Health Advisories; WTP = Water Treatment Plant, NA = Not Applicable
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 11
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Page 12 |
FOOTNOTES
1Copper and Lead – lead and copper are regulated as Treatment Technique under the Lead and Copper Rule, which requires water samples to be collected at the consumers’ tap. If action levels are exceeded in more than 10% of consumers’ taps, water systems must take steps to reduce these levels. Compliance lead and copper monitoring was conducted in 2019 at 83 consumer taps. The values reported are in compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule. The detection limit for reporting (DLR) for lead is 5 ppb. LBWD will report this same result each CCR year (2020, 2021, and 2022) until the next set of samples are taken.
2Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of the water. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of the effectiveness of our filtration system.
3Single value from LBWD’s annual monitoring
4State Total Coliform Rule and Federal Revised Total Coliform Rule – The State requires, no more than 5.0% total coliform
5Data triennially monitored by MWD.
6Data from MWD’s 2020 system wide monitoring.
INFORMATION ON DETECTED SUBSTANCES
Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts (Trihalomethanes, Haloacetic Acids and Bromate)
Disinfection of drinking water was one of the major public health advances in the 20th century. It was a major factor in reducing waterborne diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Long Beach Water Department achieves primary disinfection with free chlorine and utilizes chloramine as a secondary disinfectant in the distribution system. We carefully monitor the amount of disinfectant, adding the lowest quantity of chloramine necessary to protect the safety of your water throughout the distribution system. However, chlorine and chloramine can react with
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) are the most common DBPs formed by the disinfectant process and are suspected to be carcinogenic in humans. Some people consuming water containing TTHM in excess of the MCL over many years may experience liver, kidney, or central nervous system problems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.
The values for TTHMs in the distribution system ranged from 23 – 53 ppb, with the highest locational running average (LRAA) of 41 ppb; these values are well below the MCL of 80
ppb. The distribution system HAA5 concentrations ranged from 3.4 - 20 ppb, and the highest LRAA was 11 ppb; also well below the MCL of 60 ppb.
Bromate, which is also a disinfection by- product, is formed when ozone reacts with naturally occurring bromide found in the source water. Systems using ozone to treat drinking water are required to monitor for bromate at the treatment plant’s effluent. While LBWD does not ozonate our water, purchased treated surface water from MWD may have detectable levels of bromate.
Exposure to high concentrations of bromate over a long period of time was shown to cause cancer in rats and kidney effects in laboratory animals, and it is suspected of potential reproductive effects in humans. EPA established a MCL of 10 ppb that it considers protective of
In 2020, MWD’s drinking water bromate levels leaving their treatment plant were reported to be as high as 4.4 ppb (on a highest running annual average basis, HRAA). LBWD can usually decrease the bromate levels in most of our system by blending with our treated groundwater. In 2020, the HRAA for bromate was less than 0.5 ppb in our distribution system.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 12
HOME |
Page 13 |
We are proud to provide our customers with reliable, affordable and exceptional quality drinking water.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 13
HOME |
Page 14 |
WATER QUALITY STANDARDS: DEFINITIONS,
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
PPM (parts per million): One part substance per million parts water (or milligrams per liter)
The
What are Water Quality Standards?
AL (Regulatory Action Level): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
AWQR: Annual Water Quality Report
DLR (Detection Limit for Purpose of Reporting): The level at which a contaminant is detected for compliance reporting determination
HAA5: Sum of Five Regulated
HAAs: Monochloroacetic Acid,
Monobromoacetic Acid, Dichloroacetic
Acid, Dibromoacetic Acid, and
Trichloroacetic Acid.
HAA6Br: Sum of Bromochloroacetic
Acid, Bromodichloroacetic Acid,
Chlorodibromoacetic Acid,
Dibromoacetic Acid, Monobromoacetic
Acid and Tribromoacetic Acid.
HAA9: Sum of nine HAAs: Monochloroacetic Acid, Monobromoacetic Acid, Dichloroacetic Acid, Dibromoacetic Acid, Trichloroacetic Acid, Bromochloroacetic Acid, Bromodichloroacetic Acid, Chlorodibromoacetic Acid, Tribromoacetic Acid.
HRAA: Highest running annual average
LRAA: Locational running annual average
MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs (SMCLs)
are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water
MRDL (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants
NL (Notification Level): NLs are health- based advisory levels established by State Board for chemicals in drinking water that lack MCLs. When chemicals are found at concentrations greater than their notification levels, certain requirements and recommendations apply
NS: No standard
PDWS (Primary Drinking Water Standard): MCLs and MRDLs for contaminants that affect health, along with their monitoring and reporting requirements and water treatment requirements
PFAS: Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
PFOA: Perfluorooctanoic acid
PFOS: Perfluorooctane Sulfonic acid
RTCR: Revised Total Coliform Rule
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(Treatment Technique): A required process intended to reduce the level of
a contaminant in drinking water
What do the Measurements Mean?
Grains/Gal (grains per gallon): Grains of compound per gallon of water
mg/L: milligram per liter (ppm)
μS/cm (microsiemens per centimeter): A unit expressing the amount of electrical conductivity of a solution
NA: Not applicable
ND (Not detected): Indicates that the substance was not found by laboratory analysis
NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units):
Measurement of the clarity, or turbidity, of water
PPB (parts per billion): One part substance per billion parts water (or micrograms per liter)
PPT (parts per trillion): One part substance per trillion parts water (or nanograms per liter)
TON (Threshold Odor Number): A
measure of odor in water
What are Water Quality Goals?
MCLG (Maximum Contaminant Level Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. EPA
MRDLG (Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk
to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants
PHG (Public Health Goal): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California EPA
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 14
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Page 15 |
OTHER INFORMATION
Boron
Boron is naturally present in the environment. Based on studies in laboratory animals, exposure to high concentrations of boron in excess of the notification levels (NL) by women who are pregnant may increase their risk of having babies with developmental effects. In 2020, the levels found in LBWD’s water for boron was 130 ppb; well below the State’s NL of 1000 ppb.
Lead and Drinking Water
If elevated levels of lead is present in your water, it can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. It is possible that lead levels in your home may be higher than levels found at your neighbors as a result of the materials used in your home plumbing. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. LBWD is responsible for providing
In addition to the recent 2019 Lead and Copper Monitoring Rule compliance sampling at 83 customer taps, LBWD also conducted compliance monitoring under the 2018 Division of Drinking Water Order, where we partnered with 3 private schools and 72 public schools in the Long Beach Unified School District for lead testing at drinking fountains and food preparation faucets during
When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking (this water can be captured for
If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested by your utility or an independent laboratory. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at: epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Fluoridation
Fluoride is one of the most plentiful elements on earth. It occurs naturally in water supplies throughout California. In 1971, the Long Beach City Council mandated that LBWD add fluoride to its water. In 2015, the U.S. Public Health Services (PHS) revised the recommended fluoride concentration for drinking water to 0.7 mg/L (parts per million [ppm]), to maintain cavity prevention benefits and reduce the risk of dental fluorosis.
Blending fluoridated water from different sources does not increase total fluoride levels in drinking water. Fluoridated water does not change the taste, color or odor of your water. Parents should consult with their child’s doctor or dentist for guidance in supplementing fluoride. Consumers may obtain more information about fluoridation, oral health, and current issues at: waterboards.ca.gov/ drinking_water/certlic/drinkingwater/ Fluoridation.shtml.
PFAS News
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were two of the polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to be recommended for monitoring by utilities in their groundwater supply. In March 2019, California Division of Drinking Water, issued an Order to all water systems to perform four quarterly monitoring for PFAS. LBWD has 14 groundwater wells that were deemed vulnerable to these substances and we began monitoring in 2019. The established notification levels for these two substances are 6.5 ppt for (PFOS) and 5.1 ppt for (PFOA). Long Beach Water Department has conducted 4 quarters of monitoring and has not detected these substances in our groundwater.
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 15
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PROUDLY PRESENTED BY:
Long Beach Water Department
Award Winning Members of
Partnership for Safe Water (AWWA)
PWS ID#: 1910065
LONG BEACH BOARD OF
WATER COMMISSIONERS:
Frank Martinez, President
Art Levine, Vice President
Robert Shannon, Secretary
Gloria Cordero, Commissioner
Naomi Rainey, Commissioner
Long Beach Water Department // Water Quality Report 2020 // Page 16
Contaminants
Long Beach Water Department
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the California State Water Resources Control Board, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 470292
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Purchased surface water
- Total: 25
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Arsenic
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chloroform
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
Other Detected Contaminants
- Aluminum
- Barium
- Bromochloroacetic acid
- Chlorate
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Monobromoacetic acid
- Monochloroacetic acid
- Strontium
- Toluene
- Uranium
- Vanadium
- Xylenes (total)
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
Long Beach Tap Water
One of the most controversial topics when it comes to tap water is the presence of prescription drugs in it. The California Environmental Health Department found in a study conducted that nearly one in three homes in the state contain some level of the ingredient carbapenem, which is used in many prescription anti-inflammatory drugs (like Advil and Motrin) and antidepressants. These drugs can cause watery eyes, a scratchy throat, coughing, runny nose, diarrhea, dizziness, irritability, and even insomnia, according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
The problem is that, depending on where you live, tap water may not have any detectable levels of these contaminants at all, or they might be present in such small concentrations that they are not health-threatening. So, what are your options? First, there is bottled water. However, the quality of bottled water varies greatly from one company to the next. In addition, it costs a good deal of money to purchase a large quantity of bottled water. But according to the local city government, Long Beach, California tap water in the city is safe to drink.
Your second option is to install a home water purification system. You can purchase one of these systems at your local hardware store or do an online search. The filters use carbon filtration, ion exchange, sub-micron filtration, and sub-micron filtration. These methods work well to clean your tap water and make it safe to drink and use
Long Beach Drinking Water
It’s no secret that drinking Long Beach tap water is unhealthy. City of Long Beach is the main shipping route for all the harmful chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and plastic that make up most of our water supply. Unfortunately for us, it doesn’t have to be this way, and you can take steps to purify your own water at home for pennies on the dollar! Here are a few simple things you can do to give you and your family healthier water to drink.
First of all, don’t even think about buying some of those fancy bottled water coolers that are popping up all over the place. There are no better ways to get your water to stay pure than by boiling it unless you really like bottling, and even then it’s not worth the hassle. Just boil your water first and then let it cool, and there is no way anyone can tell that it was actually “cooled by the bottle.”
Next, use a quality filter for your faucet, especially if you are using bottled water or filtered bottled water coolers. Filters like this will remove chlorine, lead, bacteria, cysts, THMs, prescription drugs, VOCs, and other harmful contaminants from your tap water. Plus, these types of filters get rid of any nutrient content that may be left in your water as well, making it tastier and more refreshing than your regular store-bought product. This type of filter system also costs very little to purchase, and it will last for many years. These filters for your faucets can easily be found online, at your local hardware store, or at many different home improvement stores and retailers. They are relatively easy to install and can help you get cleaner, fresher-tasting water from your tap!
Long Beach Water Health Guideline
What can a Long Beach, California Water Health Guideline do for you? That depends on the situation. If your tap water quality is bad and you want to stay healthy, you will need to take corrective action immediately. The long-term effect of low or poor quality water can be devastating to your health; it can lead to everything from headaches and fatigue to serious conditions such as cancer. A good Long Beach Water Health Guideline can help you understand what kind of actions to take and how to stay healthy.
As we know, contaminants in our water supply come from many different sources. Tap water in particular has a number of pollutants that can make us sick. This includes cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals, and pesticides. Many people are aware of the sources of contamination in their local water supply but they may not know which type of contaminants are present. A Long Beach Water Health Guideline can help you get this information.
If you want to protect yourself and your family from impurities, you should consider purchasing a home filtration system. A filter can remove various contaminants from your tap water. In fact, some systems can improve your water’s quality hundreds of times over. When you compare the cost of bottled water with the cost of a home filtration system you will see that there is really no comparison at all. Once you have made the change to healthier water, you’ll wonder why you ever did not make the change sooner!
Tap water in the city was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Water Treatment in Long Beach
The use of chlorinated water is on the decline as more people have started to realize the harmful effects of these harmful substances. Many cities are now banning the use of chlorinated water but this is only a temporary solution as it is difficult to convert all of the water treatment plants into chlorinated water plants. As soon as they install the filters in the water lines, they will start recharging the treated water into the city water system.
The best way to remove all the harmful chemicals in the water is to filter the tap water yourself using a kitchen faucet mount filtration system. You can easily find one at your local hardware store for relatively little money. These systems are very effective at removing all kinds of contaminants. The only thing is, you need to change the filter cartridges every so often, which could be a bit of a hassle but is still much better than the use of chlorinated water. Most of these kitchen faucet filtration systems also come with easy-to-follow instructions.
Another option to treating the water yourself is to make your own natural filters. There are various filtering kits available that are easy to use. If you wish to do this, you must be very careful not to contaminate the water with any foreign material as it could have very adverse effects on your health. These kits can easily be made from things available around the home. Some of these filtering kits are also available online.
Long Beach Water Quality
Long Beach, California is a popular tourist attraction located in Southern California. The area has long been plagued by issues with contaminated water, including a high number of cases of cancer and other diseases caused by bacteria and algae. The contamination had made it difficult for the city to provide safe drinking water and bathing while driving on the streets, and so for this reason, the California Environmental Protection Agency had made it necessary for local municipalities to get a permit from the state before they could start regulating their local water quality.
For those living in or around Long Beach, it is necessary to have access to clean, fresh drinking water at all times. If you live in the area, you will want to make sure you buy a water filter that can take care of all of the contaminants that may be present in the local water supply, including the harmful bacteria and algae that cause these types of problems. You may also need to purchase a home drinking water purification system, especially if you are interested in filtering your own water. This is because one water quality test can often give you a range of results, and you need to know exactly what you are dealing with in order to find a remedy for it.
The main contaminants found in the water in Long Beach include bacteria, e-Coli, cryptosporidium, giardia, lead, cysts, THMs, lindane, benzene, atrazine, alachlor, lindane, TCE, and MTBE. MTBE is used to make laboratory vacuums as well as flame throwers, but its use has been banned in some places due to the cancer-causing risks it causes. THMs are byproducts of chemical processing and can cause chest and lung irritation, chest pains, dizziness, headaches, stomachaches, and vomiting, although the levels of exposure required to pose a risk to these symptoms may vary. A sample of the local water is tested each year for levels of these and other contaminants, and the results are sent to the local health department for analysis. If your water quality is substandard, you may find that you are advised to have it tested, or even that treatment is required.
Long Beach Source of Water
Long Beach is a town in Southern California’s coastal section. The lake that separates the city of Oxnard and Ventura, in southern California, is considered to be among the largest lakes in the state. The lake is fed by the San Gabriel Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. While many people associate Long Beach as being on the ocean side, it is actually on the inland side of the lake and is a popular tourist destination for those looking for a peaceful atmosphere or one with natural beauty. A Long Beach source of water is considered to be a natural resource and many people visit the area to take advantage of the natural beauty of the lake.
There are many sources of drinking water for use in the area. Lake, Bonita has a depth of about 300 feet, and its corresponding saltwater system contributing a significant amount of water volume to the ecosystem, it serves as a major Long Beach source of water. Other natural lakes that are used as a source of water for groundwater systems include those at Placerville, Oxnard, and Ventura. The Placerville lake, for example, has an elevation of about seven miles and is fed by smaller creeks and rivers. The smaller creeks and rivers are not as commonly monitored or controlled as the larger Lake Bonita.
In the area, there are two main bodies of water that serve as Long Beach’s primary source of water/drinking water. These sources are the Sea Caves and the Copier Dams. The Sea Caves is a series of caves located on the shore of the lake and the Copier Dams is a dam that has two concrete walls that are submerged in the water. Both of these systems were constructed to control the water levels in the lake. They help regulate the ecosystem of the area by creating a balance between the various fish species and other aquatic life.