Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SANTA BARBARA, California
Tap water in SANTA BARBARA, California receives a grade of F (59/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in SANTA BARBARA's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SANTA BARBARA.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 12.8 ppb, 3200x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 23.2 ppb, 387x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 36.2 ppb, 362x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT (system ID CA4210010) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for SANTA BARBARA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SANTA BARBARA's water supply.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in SANTA BARBARA's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
12.8 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
23.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 387× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
31.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 207× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
8.96 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 149× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.47 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 124× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.33 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 73× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.85 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 62× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
3.85 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 39× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.37 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 34× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
12.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.35 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.229 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.02 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.445 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.2× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.23 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 2.9× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
160.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
19.9 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
7.08 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.0168 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
2.27 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
3.16 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0163 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
12.5 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.615 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
7.37 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.0061 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00556 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.983 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0115 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
344.9 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.0233 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.388 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.276 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
25.6 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT.