Physical & aggregate
Odor in U.S. tap water
42 public water systems across 7 U.S. states report Odor in their annual Consumer Confidence Report. 4 sit at or above the federal limit.
What it is
A measure of detectable smell in the water.
Why it's regulated
Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard.
At or above the federal limit (4)
| Water system | Measured | vs. limit |
|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee, FL 2024 annual report | 16 | 5.3× the limit |
| Torrance, CA 2024 annual report | 0–4 | 1.3× the limit |
| Albany, NY 2024 annual report | 1.83–3 | 1.0× the limit |
| Overland Park, KS 2023 annual report | 3 | 1.0× the limit |
Within the federal limit (38)
| Water system | Measured |
|---|---|
| Irvine, CA 2023 annual report | 2 |
| Pasadena, CA 2023 annual report | 2 |
| Montgomery, AL 2024 annual report | 1.6 |
| Sunnyvale, CA 2024 annual report | 1.6 |
| Fairfield, CA 2024 annual report | 1.4 |
| Vacaville, CA 2024 annual report | 1.4 |
| Inglewood, CA 2023 annual report | 1.1 |
| City of Hemet, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| City of Menifee, CA 2024 annual report | 1–1 |
| City of Murrieta, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| City of Perris, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| City of San Jacinto, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| City of Temecula, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Costa Mesa, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| East Valley Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 1–1 |
| Fullerton, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Hesperia, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Huntington Beach, CA 2025 annual report | 1 |
| Mills Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Moreno Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 1–1 |
| Pomona, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Rialto, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Santa Ana, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Simi Valley, CA 2024 annual report | 1 % |
| Skinner Service Area, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA 2024 annual report | 1 % |
| Victorville, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| West Covina, CA 2024 annual report | 1 |
| Fontana, CA 2024 annual report | 0.97 |
| Ontario, CA 2024 annual report | 0.5 |
| Tracy, CA 2024 annual report | 0.11 |
| Burbank, CA 2024 annual report | 0 |
| Nashville, TN 2023 annual report | Not detected |
| San Diego, CA 2023 annual report | Not detected |
| Santa Rosa, CA 2024 annual report | Not detected |
| Visalia, CA 2024 annual report | Not detected |
| West Jordan, UT 2024 annual report | Not detected |
| West Valley City, UT 2024 annual report | Not detected |
Frequently asked
+What is Odor?
A measure of detectable smell in the water. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard.
+What is the federal limit for Odor in drinking water?
The federal MCL for Odor is 3 . 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 Odor over the federal limit?
4 of the 42 public water systems on The Water Map report Odor at or above its federal limit, spanning 7 U.S. states. The full list is on this page.
+How can I check if Odor 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 Odor.