Inorganic chemicals
Chloride in U.S. tap water
143 public water systems across 25 U.S. states report Chloride in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. 1 sit at or above the federal limit.
What it is
A naturally occurring salt compound.
Why it's regulated
Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a salty taste and can corrode pipes.
At or above the federal limit (1)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, CO 2024 annual report | 21400 ug/L | 85.6× the limit |
Approaching the limit (3)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lubbock, TX 2024 annual report | 274 mg/L | 0.9× the limit |
| Salt Lake City, UT 2024 annual report | 17.9–222 | 0.9× the limit |
| Brownsville, TX 2024 annual report | 266 mg/L | 0.9× the limit |
Within the federal limit (127)
| Water system | Measured |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA 2023 annual report | 61–161 |
| Cambridge, MA 2024 annual report | 142 mg/L |
| Lakewood, NJ 2025 annual report | 119 mg/L |
| City of Hemet, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| City of Menifee, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| City of Murrieta, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| City of Perris, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| City of San Jacinto, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| City of Temecula, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| East Valley Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| Mills Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| Moreno Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| Skinner Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 233 mg/L |
| Ansonia, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Bethany, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Branford, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Cheshire, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Derby, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| East Haven, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Hamden, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Milford, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| New Haven, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| North Haven, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Orange, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Seymour, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| West Haven, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Woodbridge, CT 2024 annual report | 44.6–105 |
| Glendale, CA 2024 annual report | 170 mg/L |
| Manchester, NH 2024 annual report | 65–83 mg/L |
| Torrance, CA 2024 annual report | 81–160 mg/L |
| San Diego, CA 2023 annual report | 151 mg/L |
| Fishers, IN 2024 annual report | 72 mg/L |
| Indianapolis, IN 2024 annual report | 72 mg/L |
| Morgan County, IN 2024 annual report | 72 mg/L |
| Westfield, IN 2024 annual report | 72 mg/L |
| Sugar Land, TX 2024 annual report | 65 mg/L |
| Tracy, CA 2024 annual report | 114 mg/L |
| Inglewood, CA 2023 annual report | 109 mg/L |
| Costa Mesa, CA 2024 annual report | 106 mg/L |
| Fullerton, CA 2024 annual report | 106 mg/L |
| Pomona, CA 2024 annual report | 96–106 mg/L |
| Columbus, OH 2025 annual report | 52 |
| Santa Ana, CA 2024 annual report | 104 mg/L |
| Thousand Oaks, CA 2024 annual report | 99–100 mg/L |
| Simi Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 99 mg/L |
| Ontario, CA 2024 annual report | 98 mg/L |
| Huntington Beach, CA 2025 annual report | 92 mg/L |
| Irvine, CA 2023 annual report | 89.2 mg/L |
| El Cajon, CA 2024 annual report | 88 mg/L |
| Salinas, CA 2024 annual report | 87 mg/L |
Showing 50 of 127. The full list is in the JSON API.
Frequently asked
+What is Chloride?
A naturally occurring salt compound. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a salty taste and can corrode pipes.
+What is the federal limit for Chloride in drinking water?
The federal MCL for Chloride is 250 mg/L. The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (typically a running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.
+How many U.S. water systems have Chloride over the federal limit?
1 of the 143 public water systems on The Water Map report Chloride at or above its federal limit, spanning 25 U.S. states. The full list is on this page.
+How can I check if Chloride is in my city's tap water?
Search your city on The Water Map (https://www.thewatermap.com/) or browse the list on this page. Every U.S. public water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report that lists every contaminant it measured, including Chloride.