Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Torrance, CA tap water
24 contaminants were measured in the Torrance, CA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 6 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 24
- Over federal limit
- 6
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Specific Conductance
- Service area
- CA
- Specific ConductancePhysical & aggregate · Range1000–1400limit 1 · 1400.0× the limit
- Total Dissolved SolidsPhysical & aggregate · Range170–1100 mg/Llimit 1 mg/L · 1100.0× the limit
- MTBEVOCs & pesticides · Range0–28 ug/Llimit 13 ug/L · 2.2× the limit
- OdorPhysical & aggregate · Range0–4limit 3 · 1.3× the limit
- ManganeseMetals · Range0–58 ug/Llimit 50 ug/L · 1.2× the limit
- AluminumMetals · Range0–210 ug/Llimit 200 ug/L · 1.1× the limit
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in Torrance, CA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
Lithium
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (76.59999999999991 mg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Torrance, CA's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 5 sources.
Source
- WELL · 3
- DELTHORNE PARK WELL
- CITY YARD WELL
Treatment
- COMBINED RO EFFLUENT AFTER BLENDING
- COMBINED RO EFFLUENT PRIOR TO BLENDING
- N. TORRANCE WELL FIELD TREATMENT PLANT
Distribution
Also buys water from METROPOLITAN WATER DIST. OF SO. CAL..
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
11 historically-detected contaminants in Torrance, CA
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
TTHM worst: 2015 | 0.0778 mg/L 97% | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2017 | 0.0244 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0085 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0081 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2012 | 0.0024 mg/L | — | '12'13'17 |
MCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0057 mg/L | — | '12'15 |
TCAA worst: 2012 | 0.0061 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.02 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.042 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.015 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.025 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 1000–1400RangeSystem-wide | 1MCL | At or above the limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 170–1100 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| OdorA measure of detectable smell in the water. | 0–4RangeSystem-wide | 3MCL | At or above the limit |
| ColorA measure of visible tint in the water. | 0–8.8RangeSystem-wide | 15MCL | Within the limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.1–0.9 NTURangeSystem-wide | 5 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTBE | 0–28 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 13 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0–58 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 50 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 0–210 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 200 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.19 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 0–1.4 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 10 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.07–0.14 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0–1.3 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 50 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detected ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 15 ug/LAction level | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 140–340 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 500 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.64–1.1 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 81–160 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 500 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0–1.69 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0–5 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 0–3 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 20 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 0–5 pCi/LRangeSystem-wide | 50 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.13–2.64 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Torrance, CA's water
+Is Torrance, CA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Torrance, CA water utility lists 6 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Specific Conductance, Total Dissolved Solids, MTBE, Odor, Manganese, and Aluminum. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Torrance, CA tap water?
24 contaminants were measured in Torrance, CA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and radionuclides. 22 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Torrance, CA tap water?
6 contaminants in Torrance, CA's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Specific Conductance (1400.0× the limit); Total Dissolved Solids (1100.0× the limit); MTBE (2.2× the limit); Odor (1.3× the limit); Manganese (1.2× the limit); Aluminum (1.1× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Torrance, CA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Specific Conductance, at 1400.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Torrance, CA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Torrance, CA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.