What was found in Ojai'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 | 4100 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 550000 µg/L — MEINERS OAKS CWD · 4,200 people · 2018 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 9400 µg/L 94% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13600 µg/L — SENIOR CANYON MUTUAL WATER CO · 800 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 500 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 885 µg/L — KROTONA INSTITUTE · 30 people · 2017 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 156.8 µg/L 157% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 100 µg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2018 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 26.59 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 103.98 µg/L — SENIOR CANYON MUTUAL WATER CO · 800 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 75.6 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 49 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 74.1 µg/L — MEINERS OAKS CWD · 4,200 people · 2024 | 2/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 67.6 µg/L 451% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Highest in the city: TICO MUTUAL WATER CO · 72 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 54 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 51.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 34 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 30 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Highest in the city: KROTONA INSTITUTE · 30 people · 2017 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 23.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 24.75 µg/L — MEINERS OAKS CWD · 4,200 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 19 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 20 µg/L — MEINERS OAKS CWD · 4,200 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.745 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.025 µg/L — TICO MUTUAL WATER CO · 72 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 8.1 µg/L — MEINERS OAKS CWD · 4,200 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.9 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 6.65 µg/L — MEINERS OAKS CWD · 4,200 people · 2018 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.64 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 4.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: SENIOR CANYON MUTUAL WATER CO · 800 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.49 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2.9949 µg/L — SIETE ROBLES MUTUAL WATER CO · 323 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT · 6,100 people · 2025 | 6/6 | 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 Ojai
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| VENTURA RIVER WATER DISTRICT | 6,100 |
| MEINERS OAKS CWD | 4,200 |
| SENIOR CANYON MUTUAL WATER CO | 800 |
| SIETE ROBLES MUTUAL WATER CO | 323 |
| TICO MUTUAL WATER CO | 72 |
| KROTONA INSTITUTE | 30 |
Frequently asked questions about Ojai tap water
Is Ojai tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Ojai. 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 Ojai?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Ojai, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Ojai's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Ojai include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Fluoride, Chromium, Barium. 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.