What was found in Santa Maria'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 | 18000 µg/L 180% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 17800 µg/L 178% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 957.5 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 50.82 µg/L 64% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 20.855 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 20.04 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 18.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 17.435 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 15.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2025 | 1/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 12.77 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 11.02 µg/L 220% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 11 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: SISQUOC · 135 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 10.225 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 8.99 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: SISQUOC · 135 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 8.3 µg/L 0.8% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: SISQUOC · 135 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 6.865 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 6.84 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 6.04195 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2017 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 5.63 µg/L 113% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.1 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: SISQUOC · 135 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 2.1 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: SISQUOC · 135 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.74 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.4900 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT · 109,477 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0100 mg/L — RAY WATER COMPANY · 40 people · 2027 | 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 Santa Maria
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT | 109,477 |
| FOSTER ROAD MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 150 |
| EAST VALLEY FARMS MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 142 |
| SISQUOC | 135 |
| AAA KINDNESS CARE HOME | 45 |
| RAY WATER COMPANY | 40 |
Frequently asked questions about Santa Maria tap water
Is Santa Maria tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Santa Maria. 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 Maria?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Santa Maria, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Santa Maria's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Santa Maria include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, TTHM, Chloroform. 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.