Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA tap water
14 contaminants were measured in the Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 14
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- PFOS
- Service area
- CA
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based3 violations on record · most recent Oct 2004resolved
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent Jun 1993resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 5.5 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | At or above the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 1.3–17 pCi/LRangeGroundwater Source | 15 pCi/LMCL | At or above the limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater Source, Surface Water Source
| |||
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 0–15 pCi/LRangeGroundwater Source | 20 pCi/LMCL | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater Source, Surface Water Source
| |||
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.33–2.7 mg/LRangeSurface Water Source | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Surface Water Source, Groundwater Source
| |||
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 31 ug/LReported levelSurface Water Source | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Surface Water Source, Groundwater Source
| |||
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 41 ug/LReported levelSurface Water Source | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Surface Water Source, Groundwater Source
| |||
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.14–0.29 NTURangeSurface Water Source | 1 NTUMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Surface Water Source, Groundwater Source
| |||
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0–2.4 mg/LRangeGroundwater Source | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater Source, Surface Water Source
| |||
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0–0.6 mg/LRangeGroundwater Source | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Groundwater Source, Surface Water Source
| |||
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.18 mg/L90th percentileDistribution System Amount Detected (90th Percentile) | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detected ug/L90th percentileDistribution System Amount Detected (90th Percentile) | None set | None detected |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0 %MaximumSystem-wide | 0 %MCLG | None detected |
+By source (2)— Total # of routine positive samples, Total # of repeat positive samples
| |||
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0 %MaximumSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
+By source (2)— Total # of routine positive samples, Total # of repeat positive samples
| |||
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TetrachloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (PCE) used in dry cleaning and degreasing. | Not detected ug/LReported levelGroundwater Source | 5 ug/LMCL | None detected |
+By source (2)— Groundwater Source, Surface Water Source
| |||
People also ask about Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA's water
+Is Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA tap water safe to drink in 2023?
The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for the Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: PFOS and Gross Alpha. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA tap water?
14 contaminants were measured in Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, and metals. 9 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA tap water?
2 contaminants in Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA's 2023 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOS (1.4× the limit); Gross Alpha (1.1× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2023 report is PFOS, at 1.4× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Desert Water Agency — Palm Springs, Ca, CA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.