Lakewood has two water providers. The City of Lakewood's Department of Water Resources serves residents west of the San Gabriel River, and Golden State Water Company serves residents east of the river. The city's new-resident guide says homes in ZIP 90715 get water from Golden State Water, and all other Lakewood residents get city water.
Why there are two providers
According to the city's history, Lakewood voters approved a $6.5 million bond in 1957 to buy the privately owned Lakewood Water and Power Company and two smaller water providers, and the transfer was completed in 1959. Areas east of the San Gabriel River continued to be served by the privately owned company now called Golden State Water. You can read the story in The Lakewood Story: A city of neighborhoods.
How to tell which one you have
- Look at your water bill. It names the provider.
- Use your ZIP. 90715 is Golden State Water. 90712 and 90713 are City of Lakewood water. See the Lakewood utilities guide.
- Use the river. East of the San Gabriel River means Golden State Water. West means city water.
Not sure what you need? Talk it through by phone.
Call (708) 350-9399About Lakewood's city water
The city's annual water quality report says the system is 100% groundwater from deep wells, with about 180 miles of water mains and more than 20,000 metered connections serving more than 66,000 residents and other customers. It also has standby connections to imported supply and emergency interconnections with neighboring systems.
Why it matters for plumbing
Leaks at the meter: the provider owns the meter and the street side. A leak at or before the meter is theirs to fix. A leak on the house side is usually the owner's. See water line repair.
Low pressure for the whole street: call the provider first. If only your house is affected, see water pressure problems.
Water quality questions: each provider publishes its own annual report. Golden State Water customers can reach the company at 1-800-999-4033, per the City of Lakewood water services page.
Shutoffs: in an emergency, the main shutoff at your house is the fastest option. Meter shutoffs are the provider's equipment.
Sewer is separate
Your water provider doesn't handle sewers. Lakewood's public sewer mains are maintained by the Los Angeles County Consolidated Sewer Maintenance District, and overflows are reported to 1-800-675-HELP, according to the Lakewood sewer page. See our guide on who owns the sewer lateral.
Where this shows up on our ZIP pages
Our Lakewood 90715 page covers the Golden State Water side of town. The 90712 and 90713 pages cover the city-water side. For other plumbing problems, start with leak detection or our troubleshooting guides.
When should you call a plumber about this?
Call when you see active leaks, water damage, sewage, repeated clogs, low pressure across the house, or anything involving gas. Call too when a job needs a permit, or when you're buying a home and want an inspection before you close. Describe what you've noticed, the home's age and your address or cross streets. You'll hear on the call whether your address and job are covered.
How was this guide researched?
This guide was written for Lakewood, California homeowners and checked against the sources below on November 11, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important with the agency or provider. See our editorial policy.