Your tap water comes from 2 sources: groundwater and surface water. We pump groundwater from local, deep wells. We also use Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (MWD) surface water from both the Colorado River and the State Water Project in northern California. These water sources supply our service area shown on the adjacent map. The quality of our groundwater and MWD’s surface water supplies is presented in this report.

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) limits the amount of certain substances allowed in tap water. In California, the State Department of Health Services (Department) regulates tap water quality by enforcing limits that are at least as stringent as the USEPA’s. Historically, California limits are more stringent than the Federal ones.

There are two types of these limits, known as standards. Primary standards protect you from substances that could potentially affect your health. Secondary standards regulate substances that affect the aesthetic qualities of water. Regulations set a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for each of the primary and secondary standards. The MCL is the highest level of a substance that is allowed in your drinking water.

Public Health Goals (PHGs) are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency. PHGs provide more information on the quality of drinking water to customers, and are similar to their federal counterparts, Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs). PHGs and MCLGs are advisory levels that are Non enforceable. Both PHGs and MCLGs are concentrations of a substance below which there are no known or expected health risks.

 
Although we test for over 100 substances, regulations require us to report only those found in your water. The first column of the water quality table lists substances detected in your water. The next columns list the average concentration and range of concentrations found in your drinking water. Following are columns that list the MCL and PHG or MCLG, if appropriate. The last column describes the likely sources of these substances in drinking water.

To review the quality of your drinking water, compare the highest concentration and the MCL. Check for substances greater than the MCL. Exceedance of a primary MCL does not usually constitute an immediate health threat. Rather, it requires testing the source water more frequently for a short duration. If test results show that the water continues to exceed the MCL, the water must be treated to remove the substance, or the source must be removed from service.

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:

• Microbial contaminants, including viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife; 
• Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally-occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming; 
• Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses; 
• Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems; 
• Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Department of Public Health (Department) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.

All drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least 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 USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791. You can also get more information on tap water by logging on to these helpful web sites: 

• USEPA's Web Site 
• Department of Public Health's Web Site

Important Health Information

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. The USEPA/Centers for Disease Control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection of Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the USEPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California completed a vulnerability assessment of its Colorado River and State Water Project supplies in 2002. Colorado River supplies are considered most vulnerable to recreation, urban/storm water runoff, increasing urbanization in the watershed, and wastewater. State Water Project supplies are considered most vulnerable to contaminants from urban/storm water runoff, wildlife, agriculture, recreation and wastewater. A copy of the assessment can be obtained by contacting MWD at

(213) 217-6000. 

The City of Manhattan Beach conducted a vulnerability assessment of its groundwater supplies in 2003. Groundwater supplies are considered most vulnerable to metal plating/finishing/fabricating, chemical/petroleum processing/storage, automobile repair shops, automobile gas stations, dry cleaners, and historic gas stations. A copy of the approved assessment may obtained by contacting Public Works at (310) 802-5324.

In April 2024, the U.S. EPA finalized new National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) were set at 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS, and 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX (HFPO-DA). A combined Hazard Index of 1.0 was also established for PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and GenX to account for their cumulative health effects.

Under the new rule, public water systems are required to begin monitoring for these PFAS within three years (by 2027) and must achieve full compliance by 2029. Based on our ongoing sampling using EPA-approved methods, no regulated PFAS compounds have been detected in the City’s wells above regulatory levels. The City continues to monitor for PFAS in accordance with federal and state requirements and remains committed to protecting public health through proactive compliance with all drinking water standards.

The City has undertaken the development of a green sand treatment system at its Peck Reservoir facility to address issues related to color-causing iron and manganese. In April 2025, the Peck Reservoir Manganese Treatment Plant officially began pumping water into the distribution system. Since becoming operational, the facility has been fully commissioned and is now actively treating water to meet all state and federal water quality standards. This marks a major milestone in the City’s efforts to improve water reliability, treatment capacity, and overall system resilience.

Although the majority of the community’s water supply still comes from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), the Peck Reservoir Manganese Treatment Plant now provides an important supplemental source. Its operation enhances local control over water resources and supports the long-term goal of reducing dependence on imported water.

This achievement reflects the City's continued investment in water infrastructure and its commitment to providing safe, high-quality drinking water to the community.

For further details, please contact Richard Olson Jr. at (310) 802-5326.

(PDF)

Water Quality Report Results 2022 (PDF)

Water Quality Report Results 2021 (PDF)

Water Quality Report Results 2020 (PDF)

You can attend City Council Meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM, at 1400 Highland Avenue, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.

• Using potable water to wash sidewalks and driveways.
• Allowing runoff when irrigating with potable water.
• Using hoses with no shutoff nozzles to wash cars.
• Using potable water in decorative water features that do not recirculate the water.
• Using outdoor irrigation during and 48 hours following measurable precipitation.