Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Irvine, California
Tap water in Irvine, California receives a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Irvine's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Irvine.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.798 ppt, 798x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.57 ppb, 392x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 36.2 ppb, 362x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT (system ID CA3010092) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for Irvine
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Irvine's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Irvine's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.798 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 798× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.57 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 392× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
15.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 254× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
24.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 164× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.36 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 123× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.59 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 76× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.24 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 75× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.54 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
4.81 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 24× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.49 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.32 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.37 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 15× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.47 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 11× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.39 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.9× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.07 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.1× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
1.28 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 3.7× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.58 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 3.7× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.993 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
200.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.77 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.8 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.3 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
29.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.00103 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.42 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
7.77 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.117 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.528 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.588 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.483 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.177 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.139 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.092 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
39.5 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.32 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.219 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
29.3 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT.