What was found in Santa Monica'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 | 570000 µg/L 5700% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 7400 µg/L 74% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 390 µg/L 9.8% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 117 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 63.2 µg/L 1264% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 55 µg/L 69% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 49 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 47.68 µg/L 159% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 30 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 43.4 µg/L 868% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 35.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 34.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 20 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 19 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 18 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 16.9 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 15 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | 12.6 µg/L 180% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 7 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 9.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 6.4 µg/L 9.1% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 5.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 4.6 pCi/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 3.4 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.1 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.5 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 1.5 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.4 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.5000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 0.5000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0220 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0179 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0088 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0050 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0046 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0045 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0014 mg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L | 1/1 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Santa Monica
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION | 89,947 |
Frequently asked questions about Santa Monica tap water
Is Santa Monica tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 37 contaminants in the water serving Santa Monica. 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 Monica?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Santa Monica, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Santa Monica's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Santa Monica include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, Trichloroethylene. 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.