Riverside, CA Water Quality (ZIP 92504)

EPA-tested PFAS, lead, and regulated contaminants for ZIP 92504 in Riverside, CA, served by ELSINORE VALLEY MWD.

Quick Answers

Is ZIP 92504 tap water safe to drink? PFAS compounds have been detected in 92504's water at an average of 6.08 ppt across 8 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended, especially for sensitive populations.

What filter should I use in 92504? A reverse osmosis system (NSF/ANSI 58) removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. For smaller households, a pitcher certified to NSF-53 for PFAS (ZeroWater, PUR PLUS) works. Standard Brita cartridges are not certified for PFAS.

ZIP 92504 Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in the water systems serving ZIP 92504 (Riverside, CA). Monitoring found a peak of 41 ppt across 3 systems, averaging 6.08 ppt over 8 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.

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

Top Detected Compounds in ZIP 92504

  • PFOA: 41 ppt (exceeds the EPA 4 ppt limit)
  • PFHPA: 14 ppt (exceeds the EPA 10 ppt limit)
  • PFBA: 7 ppt (exceeds the EPA 4 ppt limit)
  • PFPEA: 6.7 ppt (exceeds the EPA 4 ppt limit)
  • PFHXA: 4.1 ppt (exceeds the EPA 4 ppt limit)

Lead in ZIP 92504 Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing recorded 13 lead samples for the systems serving 92504, 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; homes built before 1986 should use a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead filter.

About the Data

Source: EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), Lead and Copper Rule samples, and SDWIS violation records tied to the water system that serves 92504 in Riverside, CA.

Beyond water: other exposures in Riverside, CA

Drinking water is one exposure route. These are the other federal datasets that cover ZIP 92504 and Riverside County, CA.

Radon risk in Riverside County, CA

The EPA places Riverside County, CA in Zone 2 - a moderate-risk category, with a predicted average indoor radon level between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Zone maps predict the radon potential of an area from geology and existing indoor readings - they do not describe any individual home. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among people who have never smoked, and the only way to know your own level is a test kit.

Lead paint risk in Riverside County, CA

Census figures show 31% of homes in Riverside County, CA were built before 1980, and 4% before 1950. Lead-based paint was banned for residential use in 1978, so older housing stock is the strongest available proxy for lead-paint exposure. This is a statistic about the county's housing, not a test of any particular property - if your home predates 1980, a lead swab test is the way to check.

Air quality in Riverside County, CA

Modelled annual fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) for Riverside County, CA averages 9.3 µg/m³, above the EPA's annual PM2.5 standard of 9 µg/m³. PM2.5 is the pollution fraction small enough to reach deep into the lungs. These are CDC modelled estimates for the county as a whole, not a reading taken at this ZIP code.