What was found in Lake Elsinore'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 | 7600 µg/L 76% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 5820 µg/L 58% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2017 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1100 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 456 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 185.99999999999994 µg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 95.01249999999999 µg/L 9.5% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 50.44999999999999 µg/L 63% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 39 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2025 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 30.39999999999999 µg/L 51% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 25 µg/L 250% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 22.19999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 17 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 16 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 13.699999999999989 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 13.058359999999995 µg/L 44% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 10.299999999999997 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 7.025 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 6.959999999999999 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 5.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 1.5289999999999995 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.19 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0070 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 people · 2025 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0013 mg/L 8.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ELSINORE VALLEY MWD · 169,455 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 Lake Elsinore
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ELSINORE VALLEY MWD | 169,455 |
Frequently asked questions about Lake Elsinore tap water
Is Lake Elsinore tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Lake Elsinore. 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 Lake Elsinore?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Lake Elsinore, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Lake Elsinore's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Lake Elsinore include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, 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.