Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
ELSINORE VALLEY MWD
ELSINORE VALLEY MWD delivers tap water graded F (47/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 169,455 residents in LAKE ELSINORE, California using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Radon significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 951-674-3146.
Is LAKE ELSINORE tap water safe to drink?
ELSINORE VALLEY MWD delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (47/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 169,455 residents in LAKE ELSINORE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 22 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Radon, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromate, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Chloroform, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), Bromoform, Uranium, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chlorate. 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 LAKE ELSINORE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for ELSINORE VALLEY MWD.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 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 1.68 ppt, 1678x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.42 ppb, 605x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Radon significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernRadon detected at 724.61 pCi/L, 483x above the EWG health guideline of 1.5 pCi/L.
Contact ELSINORE VALLEY MWD
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 LAKE ELSINORE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 47/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
4.43 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.68 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1678× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.42 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 605× over |
| Radon Radiological |
724.61 pCi/L | 1.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 483× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
9.14 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 152× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
17.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 116× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
10.0 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 100× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.61 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 77× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.61 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 46× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.06 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.103 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.56 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.53 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.7 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 12× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
4.59 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.171 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.6× over |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) PFAS |
0.051 ppt | 0.006 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.5× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
3.35 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.7× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
2.83 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 6.6× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.56 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
304.4 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Vanadium Other |
19.8 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.04 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
10.4 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0126 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
8.5e-05 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
2.54 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.02 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
22.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
12.4 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.56 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0605 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.85 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.52 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.72 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.14 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.436 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
300.0 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.492 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
5.37 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.024 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
ELSINORE VALLEY MWD service area
This water system serves 1 community in Riverside County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
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