What was found in Goleta'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 42760 µg/L 428% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 4500 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 580 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 168 µg/L 84% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 130 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 80.8 µg/L 101% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 67 µg/L 3.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 68.24 µg/L — EL CAPITAN MUTUAL WATER COMPANY · 325 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 53.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Chloroform | 38.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 36.245 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 25 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 21.46 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 20 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 19.7 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 18.65 µg/L 37% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 12.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 11 µg/L 110% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 8.27 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 7.89775 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 5.875 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 3.25 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.08 pCi/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.9990 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Asbestos | 0.3805 MFL 5.4% of the EPA limit 7 MFL Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0045 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GOLETA WATER DISTRICT · 84,462 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0038 mg/L — EL RANCHO TAJIGUAS · 40 people · 2024 | 3/3 | 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 Goleta
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GOLETA WATER DISTRICT | 84,462 |
| EL CAPITAN MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 325 |
| EL RANCHO TAJIGUAS | 40 |
Frequently asked questions about Goleta tap water
Is Goleta tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Goleta. 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 Goleta?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Goleta, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Goleta's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Goleta include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Cyanide, Copper. 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.