What was found in Santa Barbara's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 1000000 µg/L 10000% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10000 µg/L | 7/15 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 13000 µg/L 6500% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 200 µg/L | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 11100 µg/L 111% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10000 µg/L | 9/15 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1300 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 13/15 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 980 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 3/15 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 290 µg/L 580% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 50 µg/L | 7/15 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 180 µg/L 9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 9/15 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 136 µg/L 170% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 5/15 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 120 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/15 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 101 µg/L 168% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 5/15 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 86 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/15 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 67.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/15 | UCMR-5 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 43 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/15 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 37 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 8/15 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 30 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/15 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 28 µg/L 280% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 2/15 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 28 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/15 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 22.9 µg/L 153% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 5/15 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 22.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/15 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/15 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 10.281 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 6/15 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 9.5 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 8.6 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 5.6 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/15 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/15 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.1 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.9500 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.5900 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/15 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.1900 mg/L 1267% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 14/15 | LCR |
| Mercury | 0.1000 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 2/15 | SYR4 |
Water suppliers serving Santa Barbara
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT | 99,323 |
| CARPINTERIA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT | 15,996 |
| MONTECITO WATER DIST | 11,962 |
| LA CUMBRE MUTUAL WATER CO | 4,861 |
| SAN VICENTE WATER COMPANY | 550 |
| LAS POSITAS MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 200 |
| ELLWOOD MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 186 |
| PAINTED CAVE | 160 |
| SAN MARCOS MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 120 |
| MONTECITO SEA MEADOWS | 70 |
| CACHUMA VILLAGE | 60 |
| VIEJA MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 60 |
| LINGATE LANE MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 55 |
| ROSARIO PARK | 38 |
| CACHUMA PROJECT | 0 |
Frequently asked questions about Santa Barbara tap water
Is Santa Barbara tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 31 contaminants in the water serving Santa Barbara. 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 Santa Barbara?
15 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Santa Barbara, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Santa Barbara's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Santa Barbara include Nitrate-Nitrite, Cyanide, Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper. The full list, with the highest level found 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.