Latest Testing Results

• Regulatory Compliance: EMWD’s water meets all federal EPA and California State Water Resources Control Board drinking water standards as of the most recent testing period (April–June 2024), and EMWD is currently in the monitoring phase of the EPA’s PFAS compliance process. However, independent EWG analysis of EMWD testing data reveals 16 contaminants exceeding health-based guidelines — a distinction that matters significantly for long-term health risk assessment.
• Contaminant Detection: Key findings include arsenic at 2.43 ppb (609x above California’s 0.004 ppb public health goal, though below EPA’s 10 ppb legal limit), PFAS compounds including PFOA at 0.462 ppt and PFHxS at 0.341 ppt, total trihalomethanes at 27.9 ppb (186x above EWG health guidelines), and haloacetic acids at 36.2 ppb (362x above health guidelines).
• Testing Scope: EMWD conducts thousands of water quality tests annually across multiple treatment facilities and distribution points, monitoring over 200 regulated and unregulated contaminants. Results are published in annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) available in English and Spanish at emwd.org. Use our water quality comparison tool to benchmark Moreno Valley against other California cities.

Water Sources

• Imported Water (approx. 80%): Primary supply from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California via the Colorado River Aqueduct and State Water Project. This imported surface water carries organic material from the Colorado River that reacts with disinfectants during treatment, generating trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids as unavoidable byproducts.
• Local Groundwater (approx. 20%): Wells in the San Jacinto Basin, Hemet, Moreno Valley, Perris Valley, and Murrieta regions. Groundwater from this geological area naturally contains elevated arsenic — a consequence of local mineral-rich geology rather than industrial pollution. Some production is also subject to the Fruitvale Judgment and Decree affecting certain San Jacinto area wells.
• PFAS in Source Water: PFAS contamination in both the Colorado River watershed and local groundwater basins — from historical industrial use, military base runoff, and consumer product disposal — represents an ongoing upstream challenge for EMWD. The district is actively monitoring under EPA’s UCMR5 program and planning treatment upgrades ahead of the 2029 MCL compliance deadline. Monitor breaking news on this via our water alert news page.

Advanced Treatment Technology

• Robert A. Skinner Filtration Plant: State-of-the-art facility incorporating coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, ozonation, UV disinfection, and multi-barrier filtration. Ozonation and UV reduce many organic contaminants but do not fully eliminate PFAS compounds, which require specialised treatment such as granular activated carbon (GAC) or reverse osmosis at the plant level.
• Chloramine Disinfection: EMWD uses chloramines (rather than chlorine) for secondary disinfection, which produces fewer trihalomethanes than chlorine but still generates haloacetic acids when reacting with organic matter in Colorado River source water. The detected disinfection byproduct levels at Moreno Valley reflect this chemistry.
• Water Reclamation Leadership: EMWD’s Moreno Valley Regional Water Reclamation Facility produces tertiary-treated recycled water, and the district is recognised nationally as one of the few agencies to achieve 100% beneficial reuse of treated wastewater — an important supply resilience measure for this fast-growing region.

Infrastructure and Growth

• Distribution Network: Over 2,500 miles of water pipelines throughout EMWD’s 682-square-mile service area, with ongoing infrastructure investment and smart monitoring systems. The district recently expanded its service area to include Fallbrook Public Utility District and Rainbow Municipal Water District, adding approximately 60,000 customers in northern San Diego County.
• Financial Standing: EMWD holds strong credit ratings from both S&P Global and Moody’s, reflecting its proactive capital improvement planning and diversified water supply portfolio. This financial strength supports planned treatment upgrades needed for long-term PFAS MCL compliance.
• Point-of-Use Protection: Given the 16 contaminants above health guidelines, EMWD’s published compliance reports and independent testing both support the value of NSF-certified home filtration for Moreno Valley residents — particularly for arsenic, PFAS, and disinfection byproduct removal. See our water filter recommendations for options suited to EMWD’s specific contaminant profile.

Customer Protection Initiatives

EMWD provides comprehensive customer support including annual Consumer Confidence Reports in English and Spanish, a Water Quality Information Request Form, and extensive community education programmes. The district’s Lead and Copper Service Line inventory — required under the EPA’s updated Lead and Copper Rule — is ongoing. For live emergency notices including boil water advisories, use our live U.S. boil water notice tracker. Given findings of elevated arsenic, PFAS, and disinfection byproducts, residents should consider independent water testing and certified home filtration as additional protective measures while EMWD advances its treatment infrastructure ahead of the 2029 PFAS compliance deadline.