Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SANTA MARIA, California
Tap water in SANTA MARIA, California receives a grade of F (57/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic* significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in SANTA MARIA's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SANTA MARIA.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 19.1 ppb, 319x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic* significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic* detected at 1.05 ppb, 263x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT (system ID CA4210011) 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 MARIA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SANTA MARIA's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 MARIA'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
19.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 319× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
1.05 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 263× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
12.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 84× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 67× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.06 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 53× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.49 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 50× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 43× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.38 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 17× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.01 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.732 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.3× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
3.0 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 7.0× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
2.59 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.5× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.71 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.4× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.152 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
83.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
3.39 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.3 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
28.1 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
0.295 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid* Disinfection byproduct |
0.248 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.117 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.518 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.329 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.573 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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 MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT.