A91/100
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT — Water Quality Report 2026
Serving 98,872 people · California
Water Source
Surface Water
County
—
System ID
CA4210010
Violations
2
Contaminant Test Results
1 contaminant above EPA health goals
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit (MCL) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
chlorate | 260.00 µg/L | — | Above Goal |
EPA Violation History
No violations in the past 5 years
Full EPA compliance since 2011.
Understanding violation severity
Tier 1Urgent health risk. Utility must notify all customers within 24 hours.Tier 2Important health or treatment issue. Customers notified within 30 days.Tier 3Administrative or monitoring issue. Reported in the annual water quality report.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · Updated quarterly
Frequently Asked Questions About CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT
Is CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT water safe to drink?
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT water receives a grade of A (91/100), which is considered excellent. Out of 76 contaminants tested, none exceed EPA legal limits. 1 contaminant(s) exceed non-enforceable health goals. The water meets federal safety standards.
What contaminants has CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT detected?
76 contaminants were tested in CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT's water. Notable contaminants include chlorate. No contaminants exceed EPA legal limits. 1 exceed EPA health goals (MCLGs).
Does CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT have any EPA violations?
Yes, CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT has 2 EPA violation(s) on record, with the most recent in 2011. Violation types include MR, MCL. 1 are health-based violations.
How many people does CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT serve?
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT serves approximately 98,872 people, California. The system provides water to 1 community: Santa Barbara.
What type of water does CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT provide?
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT sources its water from surface water. Surface water comes from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs and typically requires more extensive treatment. The utility's system ID is CA4210010.
How does CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT compare to other utilities in California?
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA WATER DEPARTMENT scores 91/100 with a grade of A (excellent). This places it among the higher-performing utilities in the state. Visit our California state page for a full comparison of water systems.