Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
DESERT WATER AGENCY
DESERT WATER AGENCY delivers tap water graded D (64/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 74,807 residents in PALM SPRINGS, California using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 760-323-4971.
Is PALM SPRINGS tap water safe to drink?
DESERT WATER AGENCY delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (64/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including haloacetic acids (haa5) significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 74,807 residents in PALM SPRINGS, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chromium (hexavalent), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Uranium, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Dibromoacetic acid, Bromoform. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for PALM SPRINGS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for DESERT WATER AGENCY.
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 0.951 ppb, 48x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 2.37 ppb, 39x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact DESERT WATER AGENCY
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for PALM SPRINGS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 64/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
0.951 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 48× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
2.37 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
2.62 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
7.51 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 17× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.388 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.5× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.589 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.9× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.822 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.9× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.5 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.0× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
1.08 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.7× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.427 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.095 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0415 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.653 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
62.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
5.64 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.28 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
9.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.702 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.279 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.28 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.0145 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
DESERT WATER AGENCY service area
This water system serves 1 community in Riverside County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for PALM SPRINGS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.