Water System Report CA

City of Riverside,

EPA ID: CA3310031 · 298,398 people served · 24 ZIP codes

Throughout five consecutive years of federal water monitoring, City of Riverside, recorded zero violations — solid performance for a utility serving 298,398 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 81
Avg Safety Score
298,398
People Served
24
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0003 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$539K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 94% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 2 (2024) to 2 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Riverside, Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$91,862
Median Household Income
699,221
Service Area Population
44%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
59%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Riverside, serves a community with a median household income of $91,862 and an estimated 699,221 residents across its service area. Approximately 59% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 44% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

City of Riverside,'s water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
41th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Riverside County, California rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

49 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
20 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 71% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 82 detections recorded. 8 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 6 exceed state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.0051 ppt, PFOS: 0.0065 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in California

C 21 violations
City of Santa Ana
310,539 people
B 1 violation
Gswc - Southwest
277,740 people
B 1 violation
Helix Water District
277,668 people
A 0 violations
C 7 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $600
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $346
Total Estimated Cost $1,346

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,346 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

RIVERSIDE, CITY OF (EPA ID: CA3310031) is a community water system in California that serves approximately 298,398 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 24 ZIP codes across 7 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (81/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
92501 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92502 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92503 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92504 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92505 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92506 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92507 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92508 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92509 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92513 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92514 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92515 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92516 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92517 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92519 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92521 0.0003 mg/L No N/A
92522 0.0003 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 14 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 10 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Riverside, (CA3310031) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Riverside, water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, City of Riverside, has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does City of Riverside, serve?

City of Riverside, serves approximately 298,398 people across 24 ZIP codes in California.

Where does City of Riverside, get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(951) 351-6370
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Address
3750 University Ave., 3rd Floor Riverside, CA 92501

Contact information from RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
Chlorine

Source: RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Consumer Confidence Report:
An assessment of these drinking water sources for the City of Riverside was completed in May 2013.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
Chlorine

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

Industrial operationsAgricultural operations

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
116
Detections
7
Latest sample
11/20/2023
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 6.7 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 6.7 ppt
PFHxA 4.1 ppt
PFOS 4 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
0 ppt 6.5 ppt Below EPA limit
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Component of EPA Hazard Index — combined exposure assessed against unitless threshold of 1.0.
0 ppt 500 ppt Below EPA limit
PFHxA
Not yet EPA-regulated
0 ppt No federal limit set
PFPeA
Not yet EPA-regulated
4.9 ppt No federal limit set

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead service line replacement plan from RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Consumer Confidence Report:
Riverside Public Utilities has replaced all its known lead service lines. New Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) require community water systems to conduct an inventory of service linesconnected to the water system's distribution system, regardless of ownership status, to determine the materials of those lines. Riverside Public Utilities is in the process of collecting service line material information for the private-side portion of the water service line.

Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker

This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.

Get notified on replacement progress

Subscribers receive an email when this utility updates its LSL plan, files a milestone report, or adjusts replacement timelines. No marketing, no third-party sharing.

By submitting you agree to Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime via the link in any email.

RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.

Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
68,071
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 298,398
Reported to California

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Aesthetic water quality

These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.

pH
7.8
How acidic or basic the water is on a 0-14 scale. Drinking water is typically near neutral.
EPA secondary range: 6.5 – 8.5
Fluoride
0.5 ppm
Utility does not add fluoride
Measured fluoride concentration in parts per million.
EPA secondary MCL: 2.0 ppm
Alkalinity
173 ppm CaCO₃
Capacity of the water to neutralize acids, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent.
Total dissolved solids
339 ppm
Mineral content remaining after evaporation, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other dissolved substances.
EPA secondary MCL: 500 ppm

Aesthetic measurements from RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Consumer Confidence Report.

Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.

Hard water detected in RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES

Your utility reported water hardness of 189 ppm CaCO₃ (11 grains per gallon) in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report. This is in the hard range and may cause scale buildup, reduced appliance lifespan, and dry skin or hair.

Solutions for hard water

There are three common approaches to treating hard water: salt-based ion-exchange softeners (most effective, require salt refills), salt-free conditioners (lower maintenance, scale prevention only), and reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink (cooking and drinking water only). Aquasana, EcoWater, Pelican, and SpringWell are among the major US brands.

Recommended Aquasana system for your hardness level

Paid Partner. ZipCheckup earns commission on Aquasana purchases. We do not test water or verify product effectiveness for specific hardness levels — manufacturer claims are theirs alone. Consult a certified water-quality professional for personalized advice.

Hardness data parsed from this utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report. Severity bands per USGS hard water classification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Riverside, safe to drink?
City of Riverside, earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Riverside, meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Riverside, serve?
City of Riverside, serves approximately 298,398 people with drinking water across 24 ZIP codes.
What is City of Riverside,'s water source?
City of Riverside, draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Riverside,'s water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0003 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Riverside,'s service area?
The City of Riverside, service area has a median household income of $91,862. EPA EJScreen data classifies 44% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Riverside, get its water?
City of Riverside,'s water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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