Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT
RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water graded F (48/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 146,147 residents in TEMECULA, California using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 951-296-6965.
Is TEMECULA tap water safe to drink?
RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (48/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 146,147 residents in TEMECULA, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 19 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dichloroacetic acid, Bromoform, Uranium, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Vanadium. 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT (system ID CA3310038) 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.
Quick actions for TEMECULA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT.
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.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.92 ppb, 731x 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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.213 ppt, 213x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Contact RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT
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 TEMECULA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 48/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.92 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 731× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.213 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 213× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
9.62 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 160× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
21.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 145× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.7 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 95× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 57× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.863 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 43× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.955 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.16 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 15× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.48 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
5.71 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.879 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 9.8× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.93 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.6× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
4.43 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 8.9× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.75 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 4.1× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.812 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 2.7× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.1 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.0× over |
| Vanadium Other |
28.4 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
44.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
5.11 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
37.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.349 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.15 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0935 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.354 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.333 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.465 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
0.303 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.297 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.043 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.276 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.504 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.378 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
3.35 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.
RANCHO CALIFORNIA WATER DISTRICT 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 TEMECULA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.