Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION
SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION delivers tap water graded C (68/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 89,947 residents in SANTA MONICA, California using surface water (purchased). 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 424-508-2876.
Is SANTA MONICA tap water safe to drink?
SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (68/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 89,947 residents in SANTA MONICA, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 19 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dibromoacetic acid, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Dibromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane, Bromochloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Bromoform, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Nitrate, Uranium, Nitrate and nitrite*, 1,4-Dioxane, 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 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.
Quick actions for SANTA MONICA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION.
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.
Contact SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION
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 SANTA MONICA
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 68/100 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 (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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
SANTA MONICA-CITY, WATER DIVISION service area
This water system serves 1 community in Los Angeles County, California. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for SANTA MONICA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.