What was found in Irvine's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 540000 µg/L 5400% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 12325 µg/L 123% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 589.5 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 544 µg/L 54% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 144.25 µg/L 7.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 67.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2025 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 56 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 26 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 21.2925 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 20.975 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 17 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 17 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 14 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 11.1303 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 9.05 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 8.849 µg/L 88% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 8.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 8.23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.84 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 4.488 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2013 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.359 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.885 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.6226 pCi/L 12% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2013 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.5000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0079 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2025 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0038 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2025 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT · 444,800 people · 2025 | 1/1 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Irvine
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| IRVINE RANCH WATER DISTRICT | 444,800 |
Frequently asked questions about Irvine tap water
Is Irvine tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 28 contaminants in the water serving Irvine. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Irvine?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Irvine, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Irvine's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Irvine include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrite, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.