Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
GOLETA WATER DISTRICT
GOLETA WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water graded D (64/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 84,462 residents in GOLETA, California using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 805-879-4621.
Is GOLETA tap water safe to drink?
GOLETA WATER DISTRICT delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (64/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including haloacetic acids (haa9) significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 84,462 residents in GOLETA, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 18 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Arsenic, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Bromoform, Uranium, Nitrate, Chlorate, Radium, combined (-226 and -228). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for GOLETA WATER DISTRICT (system ID CA4210004) 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.
Quick actions for GOLETA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for GOLETA WATER DISTRICT.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 34.4 ppb, 573x 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.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 46.2 ppb, 308x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.165 ppb.
Contact GOLETA WATER DISTRICT
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for GOLETA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 64/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
34.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 573× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
36.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 362× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
46.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 308× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
14.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 242× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 103× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.11 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 70× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
19.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.165 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 41× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.37 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 37× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.192 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.6× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.617 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 4.4× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.252 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 4.2× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
1.78 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.6× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
1.53 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 3.6× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.341 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
323.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.5× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.07 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Bromochloromethane Other |
0.0273 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
27.2 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
0.0001 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
4.32 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.72 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
21.1 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.873 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00244 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
3.45 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.12 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
1.04 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0296 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.359 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
0.285 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
GOLETA WATER DISTRICT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Santa Barbara County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for GOLETA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.