What was found in Encinitas's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 764.4999999999995 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 570 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 119.5 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 64.08000000000006 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 68.35 µg/L — SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 54.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2024 | 2/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Chloroform | 32.59500000000001 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 25.79499999999999 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 20 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.399999999999977 µg/L — SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 21 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 15.975 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 8.245 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11 µg/L — SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 6.284999999999997 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.6 µg/L — SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.994999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.704999999999998 µg/L — SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 4.95 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.1899999999999995 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 3.5313 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.2999999999999994 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.8199999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0049 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0048 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0043 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0034 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: OLIVENHAIN MWD · 86,458 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0011 mg/L — SAN DIEGUITO WD · 40,405 people · 2025 | 2/2 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Encinitas
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| OLIVENHAIN MWD | 86,458 |
| SAN DIEGUITO WD | 40,405 |
Frequently asked questions about Encinitas tap water
Is Encinitas tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Encinitas. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Encinitas?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Encinitas, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Encinitas's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Encinitas include Fluoride, Chlorite, Barium, TTHM, Lithium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.