Riverside, CA Water Quality Report

Is Riverside tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Riverside, California. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.

Quick Answers

Is Riverside tap water safe to drink? Riverside tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 10.58 ppt across 9 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.

What contaminants are in Riverside water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Riverside water: PFOA (41 ppt), lithium (39 ppt), PFHpA (14 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.

What filter should I use in Riverside? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.

Riverside Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Riverside drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 41 ppt across 4 water systems, representing an average of 10.58 ppt across 9 detected compounds.

Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.

Top Detected Compounds

  • PFOA: 41 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • lithium: 39 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFHpA: 14 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
  • PFBA: 0.01 ppt
  • PFPeA: 0.01 ppt

Lead in Riverside Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 23 lead samples for Riverside water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.0031 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.

About the Data

These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Riverside: approximately 314,998.

ZIP Codes Served

92501, 92502, 92503, 92504, 92505

What Riverside Residents Should Do

  1. Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
  2. Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
  3. If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
  4. Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually