Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Riverside?
Yes, tap water in Riverside is safe to drink. Riverside Public Utilities supplies the city almost entirely from local groundwater in the Bunker Hill and Riverside basins, treated where needed, and it meets all EPA and California standards.
Water Source
Riverside Public Utilities is unusual among Southern California cities in being essentially self-sufficient: nearly all supply comes from city-owned wells in the San Bernardino (Bunker Hill) and Riverside groundwater basins, conveyed by gravity down the Santa Ana River corridor.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards and California's stricter requirements. Historic industrial and agricultural plumes in area basins (including perchlorate and solvents like TCE regionally) are handled with wellhead treatment and blending.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •Regional groundwater carries legacy traces of perchlorate and industrial solvents from decades of Inland Empire industry and agriculture; affected wells are treated or blended to meet standards
- •Nitrates from historical citrus and dairy agriculture are monitored in local basins
- •Disinfection byproducts are low since groundwater needs less chlorination than surface water
Water Quality Data
Key contaminants detected vs. regulatory limits. All values from the most recent published report — Source: Riverside Public Utilities 2024 CCR.
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (total) | 1.2 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Fluoride | 0.71 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 2.4 µg/L | 15.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Nitrate (as N) | 3.6 mg/L | 10.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) | 23.8 µg/L | 80.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids) | 16.2 µg/L | 60.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Chromium-6 | 0.16 µg/L | 0.02 µg/L | ⚠ |
| PFAS (total) | 5.7 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L | ⚠ |
✓ = below limit ⚠ = above health goal ✗ = exceeds guideline
How It Compares
While most Southern California cities depend heavily on imported water, Riverside's local groundwater independence shields it from imported-supply costs and drought politics — at the price of managing legacy basin contamination with active treatment.
Tips
- •The annual water quality report details treatment by wellfield
- •Hardness is high; softeners are a common comfort choice
- •No safety filter is needed for the delivered supply
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