Physical & aggregate
Color in U.S. tap water
46 public water systems across 7 U.S. states report Color in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. None currently sit at or above the federal limit.
What it is
A measure of visible tint in the water.
Why it's regulated
Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard.
Within the federal limit (43)
| Water system | Measured |
|---|---|
| Inglewood, CA 2023 annual report | 8.9 |
| Torrance, CA 2024 annual report | 0–8.8 |
| Albany, NY 2024 annual report | 3.82–8 |
| Santa Rosa, CA 2024 annual report | 0–6 |
| Mobile, AL 2024 annual report | 0–5 |
| Yonkers, NY 2024 annual report | 5 |
| Charleston, SC 2024 annual report | 4 |
| North Charleston, SC 2024 annual report | 4 |
| Tracy, CA 2024 annual report | 2.67 |
| Bridgeport, CT 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Burbank, CA 2024 annual report | 0–2 |
| City of Hemet, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| City of Menifee, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| City of Murrieta, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| City of Perris, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| City of San Jacinto, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| City of Temecula, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Costa Mesa, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| East Valley Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Fullerton, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Glendale, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Irvine, CA 2023 annual report | 2 |
| Mills Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Moreno Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| San Diego, CA 2023 annual report | 2 |
| Santa Ana, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Skinner Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Stamford, CT 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Sunnyvale, CA 2024 annual report | 2 |
| Chico, CA 2024 annual report | 1.8 |
| Visalia, CA 2024 annual report | 1.7 |
| Salinas, CA 2024 annual report | 1.6 |
| Escondido, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Huntington Beach, CA 2025 annual report | 1 |
| Pasadena, CA 2023 annual report | 1 |
| Pomona, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Simi Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 1 % |
| Thousand Oaks, CA 2024 annual report | 1 % |
| Fontana, CA 2024 annual report | 0.04 |
| Columbia, SC 2024 annual report | 0 |
| Nashville, TN 2023 annual report | Not detected |
| Vallejo, CA 2024 annual report | Not detected |
| West Covina, CA 2024 annual report | Not detected |
Frequently asked
+What is Color?
A measure of visible tint in the water. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard.
+What is the federal limit for Color in drinking water?
The federal MCL for Color is 15 . 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 Color over the federal limit?
Zero of the 46 public water systems in The Water Map dataset currently report Color at or above its federal limit.
+How can I check if Color 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 Color.