Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
RIVERSIDE, CITY OF
RIVERSIDE, CITY OF delivers tap water graded F (46/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 298,398 residents in RIVERSIDE, California using groundwater under direct influence. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 951-826-8950.
Is RIVERSIDE tap water safe to drink?
RIVERSIDE, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (46/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 298,398 residents in RIVERSIDE, drawing from groundwater under direct influence.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Uranium, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), 1,4-Dioxane, Perchlorate. 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 RIVERSIDE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for RIVERSIDE, CITY OF.
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 2.24 ppt, 2238x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.1 ppb, 526x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 2.07 ppb, 104x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Contact RIVERSIDE, CITY OF
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 RIVERSIDE
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 46/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.24 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2238× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.1 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 526× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.07 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 104× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
5.54 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 40× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.11 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 35× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
5.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
1.14 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
6.72 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 16× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
3.8 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 13× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.11 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.3× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.65 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 1.9× over |
| Perchlorate Disinfection byproduct |
1.27 ppb | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Vanadium Other |
6.38 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
62.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.23 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.0273 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.84 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.95 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.08 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.93 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.493 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.249 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.481 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.278 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
4.53 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.
RIVERSIDE, CITY OF 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 RIVERSIDE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.