Monitoring Rivers and Lakes

Clean, flowing water breathes life into our urban landscape. High-quality recycled water from LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) water reclamation plants in Van Nuys and Glendale flows directly into local aquatic sites, including the Japanese Garden pond, Balboa Wildlife Lake, and the Los Angeles River. 

Our Rivers and Lakes Monitoring Program conducts routine physical, chemical, and biological testing on water and sediment samples from these freshwater bodies. By tracking pollutant levels, nutrients, and aquatic toxicity, our scientists protect wildlife habitats, support urban biodiversity, and safeguard public health along the Los Angeles River watershed.

LASAN biologists and chemists analyze water and riverbed sediment samples for a comprehensive suite of environmental parameters:  

• Microbiology & Pathogens: Escherichia coli (E. coli) and fecal coliforms.  
• Physical & General Chemistry: Dissolved oxygen, residual chlorine, turbidity, pH, hardness, total organic carbon (TOC), and dissolved solids.  
• Nutrients & Salts: Ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, surfactants, and inorganic salts.  
• Heavy Metals: Cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium, zinc, and cyanides.  
• Trace Organics & Toxins: Pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), herbicides, perchlorate, dioxins, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  
• Toxicity Testing: Acute and chronic toxicity bioassays assessing aquatic life survival and reproduction. 

During the summer season, portions of the Los Angeles River are open to the public for kayaking, fishing, and walking. LASAN's routine bacterial testing helps environmental health officials evaluate river conditions, ensuring that Angelenos can safely enjoy our local urban river ecosystem.

Have questions about Los Angeles River or lake monitoring data? Contact our 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489 or submit an inquiry through MyLA311.