What was found in Santa Ynez'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 | 726000 µg/L 7260% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 5450.6 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8350.7 µg/L — MEADOWLARK RANCHES MUTUAL WATER COMPANY · 150 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 162 µg/L 8.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 433.72 µg/L — MEADOWLARK RANCHES MUTUAL WATER COMPANY · 150 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 360 µg/L 9% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 203.5 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 62.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2025 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 56.98 µg/L 71% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 28 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 42.5 µg/L — SANTA YNEZ RANCHO ESTATES · 304 people · 2018 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 22.76 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 21.53 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 21.45 µg/L 143% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 19.2 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 17.935 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 17.18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 12.49 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 10.6 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 10.38 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 9.7148 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.2 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.32 µg/L — OAK TRAIL ESTATES · 211 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4.715 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 1.8 µg/L 36% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.095 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 · 7,022 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0050 mg/L — OAK TRAIL ESTATES · 211 people · 2025 | 7/7 | 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 Ynez
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SANTA YNEZ RIVER WATER CONS. DIST. ID#1 | 7,022 |
| WOODSTOCK RANCH | 325 |
| SANTA YNEZ RANCHO ESTATES | 304 |
| SKYLINE PARK | 295 |
| OAK TRAIL ESTATES | 211 |
| MEADOWLARK RANCHES MUTUAL WATER COMPANY | 150 |
| OAK TRAIL RANCH | 102 |
Frequently asked questions about Santa Ynez tap water
Is Santa Ynez tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Santa Ynez. 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 Ynez?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Santa Ynez, California to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Santa Ynez's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Santa Ynez include Nitrate-Nitrite, Nitrate, Barium, Fluoride, 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.