Is Lawndale, CA tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Golden State Water Company – Southwest.
2 public water systems serve parts of Lawndale. The largest, Golden State Water Company – Southwest, serves 277,740 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Golden State Water Company – Southwest
277,740 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID CA1910155
Buys treated water from Liberty Utilities – Compton, City of Inglewood Water Dept., Hawthorne-City Water Dept., Metropolitan Water District of SO. Cal., City of Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power, California Water Service – Dominguez.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 1.7 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across California, 129 of 691 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 26 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. California results.
Lawndale homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Lawndale city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Other water systems serving Lawndale
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Hawthorne 2 mi Golden State Water Company – Southwest | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
| Redondo Beach 3 mi Golden State Water Company – Southwest | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
| Gardena 3 mi Golden State Water Company – Southwest | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
| Manhattan Beach 4 mi California Water Service – Hermosa/Redondo | None above limits | 1.4 ppb |
| Torrance 4 mi California Water Service – Dominguez | None above limits | 1.8 ppb |
| Inglewood 5 mi Golden State Water Company – Southwest | None above limits | 1.7 ppb |
Lawndale ZIP codes (1)
- 90260
Questions
Is Lawndale tap water safe to drink?
Golden State Water Company – Southwest has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Lawndale, CA?
2 public water systems serve parts of Lawndale. The largest is Golden State Water Company – Southwest (277,740 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Lawndale tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Golden State Water Company – Southwest had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Lawndale homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 72% of Lawndale homes as built before 1980 (California: 56%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Golden State Water Company – Southwest's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.