Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Moreno Valley?
Yes, tap water in Moreno Valley is safe to drink. Most of the city is served by the Eastern Municipal Water District, which blends imported Colorado River and Northern California water with locally treated groundwater, all meeting EPA and California standards.
Water Source
The Eastern Municipal Water District serves most of Moreno Valley with imported water from the Metropolitan Water District (Colorado River Aqueduct and State Water Project) blended with local groundwater, including supplies from EMWD's groundwater desalination plants; a small area is served by Box Springs Mutual Water Company.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards and California limits.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •Imported Colorado River water carries high natural mineral content — a hardness and taste matter, not a violation
- •Local groundwater in parts of the San Jacinto basin runs brackish or nitrate-affected and is treated at EMWD desalters before use
- •Disinfection byproducts are monitored and kept within limits
Water Quality Data
Key contaminants detected vs. regulatory limits. All values from the most recent published report — Source: Eastern Municipal Water District 2024 CCR.
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (total) | 1.3 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Fluoride | 0.72 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 2.3 µg/L | 15.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Nitrate (as N) | 2.8 mg/L | 10.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) | 25.7 µg/L | 80.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids) | 17.4 µg/L | 60.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Chromium-6 | 0.07 µg/L | 0.02 µg/L | ⚠ |
✓ = below limit ⚠ = above health goal ✗ = exceeds guideline
How It Compares
Like much of inland Southern California, Moreno Valley leans on imported water, but EMWD stands out for actively desalting local brackish groundwater to reduce that dependence — a resilience investment few districts its size have made.
Tips
- •A pitcher filter or softener addresses the hard imported-water taste
- •EMWD publishes annual water quality reports by service area
- •Check whether your address is EMWD or Box Springs Mutual to read the right report
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •US EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulations
- •EWG Tap Water Database
- •The utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality