What’s in Your Tap Water: A Deep Dive Into Westchester Water Quality

Living in Westchester means enjoying all that Los Angeles’ Westside has to offer — beaches, community parks, and urban convenience. But what about the water coming out of the tap? For many residents, understanding water quality can be confusing: municipal reports often focus on regulatory compliance, while independent databases like those from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) apply stricter health-based benchmarks. Here’s what you need to know.

Who Provides Your Water?

The majority of Westchester’s drinking water is supplied by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). LADWP releases an annual Drinking Water Quality Report (also called a Consumer Confidence Report) in compliance with the California State Water Resources Control Board. These reports summarize what contaminants were tested over the previous year and compare results to federal and state regulatory limits.

Municipal water systems like LADWP are required to meet EPA and state Safe Drinking Water Act standards — but “meeting the standard” does not always mean the water is free of contaminants below levels some scientists consider fully safe.

Water Quality Concerns

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database analyzes public water systems using independent health-based guidelines that are typically stricter than federal legal limits. According to EWG’s latest data for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power system, several contaminants present in municipal supplies exceed these health-based benchmarks:

Key Contaminants

The Rise of PFAS Concerns in 2026: 

As of early 2026, federal and state regulations regarding PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have become significantly stricter. While LADWP has been proactive in testing, these "forever chemicals" are increasingly detected in groundwater across the LA Basin. Because PFAS are not removed by standard municipal treatment, Westchester homeowners concerned about long-term health risks are increasingly looking toward advanced Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems that are specifically certified to reduce these compounds.

• Arsenic 

  Detected at levels far above EWG’s health guideline for cancer risk (572× above EWG’s benchmark), even though it’s below federal limits. Arsenic is a known carcinogen linked to bladder, lung, and skin cancers.

  
  

• Bromate & Disinfection Byproducts

  Formed when disinfectants like chlorine react with organic material in water. These compounds (including total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids) are associated with increased cancer risk.

  
  

• Hexavalent Chromium

  An industrial contaminant linked to cancer, found above health-based guidelines.

  
  

• Nitrates/Nitrites

  Often from fertilizers or urban runoff, high levels can pose particular risk for infants and may be associated with cancer risk in adults.

  
  

• Uranium

  A radioactive element that can cause kidney damage and is linked to cancer.

Water can be legally “safe” while still containing contaminants that some health researchers believe could pose risks at long-term exposure levels.

Even when the LADWP system meets federal drinking water standards, EWG’s independent thresholds indicate that these chemicals are present at levels some health scientists would consider concerning — especially over a lifetime of exposure.

Westchester’s "Hard Water" Factor: 

Beyond chemical contaminants, Westchester residents deal with a high mineral count. Westchester is located in the Western Los Angeles water quality area, where hardness levels typically average between 8 to 12 grains per gallon. In the world of plumbing and appliances, anything over 7 grains is considered "Hard." This is why many 90045 neighbors notice white crusty buildup on their fixtures and "frizzy" hair after showering.

What Residents in 90045 Can Do

The Westchester Infrastructure Factor: 

Westchester is home to many beautiful, mid-century homes built in the 1940s and 50s. While the city's main water lines may be updated, older local plumbing in the 90045 area can sometimes leach lead or copper into your water after it leaves the street. This is why "Point of Entry" filtration is so critical in this neighborhood—it protects your water from the final few feet of its journey through aging pipes.

3. Watch for Signs of Contaminates or Hard Water.

Problems like taste, odor, or discoloration — even if not health hazards — can signal issues in your home plumbing or indicate when service line updates are needed. Local utilities can help investigate these. Hard water leaves mineral buildup around faucets, sinks, and showerheads, causes soap to lather poorly, and can make hair dry and dull. You might also notice spots on dishes, stiff laundry, or scale buildup in appliances like kettles and water heaters.

For more about hard water take a look at this article: "Understanding Hard Water in Los Angeles."

1. Get your homes water tested and have a in-home water treatment system consultation

Protect your family’s health and enjoy cleaner, better-tasting water by getting your home’s water tested. Our professional in-home consultation will evaluate your water quality and show you how a customized water treatment system can address contaminants, improve taste, and give you peace of mind. There’s no obligation — just clear answers and expert guidance for your home’s water needs.

2. Consider Filtration

For Westchester homes, ensuring safe, clean water is more than just a precaution — it’s our legacy. With over 30 years of experience in Southern California water treatment, Hague Water SoCal specializes in designing and installing certified home filtration systems, including activated carbon and reverse-osmosis solutions. These systems effectively reduce contaminants such as disinfection byproducts, arsenic, and other impurities, giving your family peace of mind and better-tasting water backed by decades of expertise.

Bottom Line

Residents in Westchester, CA (90045) are served by one of the largest municipal water systems in the country, and LADWP generally meets all regulatory requirements. However, when evaluated against stricter health-based benchmarks — certain contaminants are present at levels that some scientists consider worth attention, especially for vulnerable groups such as infants, pregnant people, and people with chronic health conditions.

Understanding both municipal compliance data and health-based assessments gives you the clearest picture of what’s flowing from your tap — and what steps you might take to make it even safer.

FAQ: Westchester Water Quality

Is Westchester's water different from the rest of LA?

Westchester primarily receives water from the Los Angeles Aqueduct and the Colorado River. Depending on the time of year, LADWP may blend this with local groundwater, which can change the hardness levels and mineral taste throughout the year.

Does a refrigerator filter remove the Arsenic?

Most standard refrigerator filters are "Carbon-only," which are great for chlorine and taste but do not reliably remove heavy metals like Arsenic or Uranium. To address those specific 90045 concerns, a Reverse Osmosis system is the industry standard.

Why does my water smell like chlorine occasionally?

Like most major cities, LADWP uses chloramines (a mixture of chlorine and ammonia) to keep water safe from bacteria. This scent can be more noticeable during peak summer months or during "water main" maintenance in the Westchester area.

Is Westchester tap water safe to drink?

Yes — Westchester’s tap water meets all federal and state drinking water regulations set by the EPA and California regulators. However, meeting legal limits does not necessarily mean the water is free of all contaminants. Independent organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) use much stricter health-based guidelines and identify certain contaminants present at levels they consider concerning over long-term exposure.

Who supplies drinking water to Westchester?

Most residents in Westchester receive their water from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). LADWP sources water from a combination of imported water, local groundwater, and recycled water, depending on seasonal and supply conditions.

What contaminants are commonly found in Westchester’s tap water?

Based on municipal testing and EWG analysis, commonly detected contaminants include:

• Disinfection byproducts (such as trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids)

• Arsenic

• Hexavalent chromium

• Bromate

• Nitrates

• Uranium

These substances are typically found at levels below legal limits, but some exceed EWG’s health-based recommendations.

Why does EWG list more concerns than the city’s water report?

Municipal water reports focus on regulatory compliance, meaning whether contaminant levels fall under legally allowed limits.EWG compares those same results to health-based benchmarks, which are often much lower and designed to reduce potential risks over a lifetime of exposure — especially for children, pregnant individuals, and people with compromised health.

What are disinfection byproducts and why are they important?

Disinfection byproducts form when chlorine or chloramine (used to kill bacteria) reacts with organic matter in water. While disinfection is essential for safety, some byproducts have been linked in studies to increased cancer risk and reproductive concerns when exposure occurs over many years.

Does boiling tap water remove contaminants?

Boiling water does not remove most chemical contaminants like arsenic, nitrates, or disinfection byproducts. In some cases, boiling can actually concentrate certain contaminants as water evaporates.

Can home filtration improve water quality in Westchester?

Yes. Depending on the system, home water filtration can significantly reduce:

• Chlorine and chloramine

• Disinfection byproducts

• Heavy metals

• Certain industrial and naturally occurring contaminants

Systems such as activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis, and whole-house filtration are commonly used based on household needs.

Why does my water taste or smell like chlorine?

A chlorine or swimming-pool smell is common in treated municipal water and indicates active disinfection. While chlorine is effective at preventing harmful bacteria, it can affect taste, odor, skin, and hair, and contributes to the formation of disinfection byproducts.

Is Westchester water considered “hard water”?

Los Angeles water — including Westchester — is generally classified as moderately hard to hard, depending on the blend of water sources at any given time. Hard water can cause mineral scale buildup on fixtures, reduce soap efficiency, and contribute to dry skin and hair.