Tap Water Results

Is Riverside, CA tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

Summary

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for City of Riverside. 3 PFAS were detected below the limits.

4 public water systems serve parts of Riverside. The largest, City of Riverside, serves 302,776 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

City of Riverside

302,776 people · Groundwater under influence of surface water · EPA ID CA3310031

Buys treated water from Western Municipal Water District.

PFASHighest averageLimitStatus
PFOA
Not detected
–4 pptNot detected
PFOS
Detected, below limit
1 ppt4 pptDetected, below limit
PFHxS
Not detected
–10 pptNot detected
PFNA
Not detected
–10 pptNot detected
HFPO-DA (GenX)
Not detected
–10 pptNot detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 1 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full City of Riverside results

Across California, 129 of 691 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 26 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. California results.

Riverside homes and lead pipes

56%
of homes built before 1980 (California 56%, US 50%)
10%
built before 1950 (California 14%)
43%
of households rent (California 44%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. City of Riverside publishes a service line inventory you can search by address. Look up your address. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Riverside city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Riverside

How nearby cities compare

CityMain water systemPFASLead (90th pct.)
Jurupa Valley 6 mi
Jurupa Community Services District
Jurupa Community Services DistrictNone above limits0 ppb
Colton 9 mi
West Valley Water District
West Valley Water DistrictNone above limits0 ppb
Norco 9 mi
City of Norco
City of NorcoAbove limit0 ppb
Moreno Valley 11 mi
Eastern Municipal Water District
Eastern Municipal Water DistrictNone above limits2.8 ppb
Eastvale 11 mi
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water DistrictNone above limits1.3 ppb
Loma Linda 11 mi
City of Loma Linda
City of Loma LindaNone above limits0 ppb
Riverside ZIP codes (8)
  • 92501
  • 92503
  • 92504
  • 92505
  • 92506
  • 92507
  • 92508
  • 92521

Questions

Is Riverside tap water safe to drink?

City of Riverside has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Riverside, CA?

4 public water systems serve parts of Riverside. The largest is City of Riverside (302,776 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Riverside tap water have PFAS?

City of Riverside had 3 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do Riverside homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 56% of Riverside homes as built before 1980 (California: 56%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. City of Riverside's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.