Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in SANTA MONICA, California
Tap water in SANTA MONICA, California receives a grade of D (68/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in SANTA MONICA's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving SANTA MONICA.
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.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.66 ppb, 165x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 23.8 ppb, 159x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION (system ID CA1910146) 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 MONICA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in SANTA MONICA's water supply.
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 MONICA'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 |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.66 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 165× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
23.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 159× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.2 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 73× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
3.94 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 66× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.67 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 47× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.43 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 40× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.625 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 31× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.536 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
6.45 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.31 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.6× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.588 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.9× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
1.46 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.7× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.463 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.3× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.38 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 3.2× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite* Inorganic |
0.287 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.0× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.654 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | 1.9× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
356.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.369 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.35 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.31 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
3.54 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
24.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
0.633 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0146 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.402 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorodifluoromethane Other |
0.29 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.363 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
15.4 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 SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION.