Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in PALM DESERT, California
Tap water in PALM DESERT, California receives a grade of D (60/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by COACHELLA VWD: COVE COMMUNITY. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in PALM DESERT's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving PALM DESERT.
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.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 6.69 ppb, 334x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 1.14 ppb, 286x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Recommended filters for PALM DESERT
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in PALM DESERT's water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
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 PALM DESERT'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
6.69 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 334× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
1.14 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 286× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
2.93 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
4.55 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 30× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.36 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 17× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.56 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.788 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
4.5 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.37 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 9.8× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.72 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.4× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0957 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.2× over |
| 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) Other |
0.00533 ppb | 0.0017 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | 3.1× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.06 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.2× over |
| Vanadium Other |
16.8 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.234 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
0.364 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
8.69 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
7.32 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
12.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00533 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
0.772 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0486 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.424 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.00833 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
5.23 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.54 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.00833 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 COACHELLA VWD: COVE COMMUNITY.