Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Santa Maria?
Yes, Santa Maria's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Santa Maria has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Santa Maria's local Twitter account.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Santa Maria's water utility, Santa Maria Water Department, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Santa Maria was resolved on Dec. 31, 2016. This assessment is based on the Santa Maria Water Department water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Santa Maria Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Santa Maria tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Santa Maria's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Santa Maria Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Santa Maria Water Department for Santa Maria in California. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From Oct. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2016, Santa Maria had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Routine (IDSE) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).
For the compliance period beginning Sept. 1, 2014, Santa Maria had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Source Water (GWR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Groundwater Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: E. COLI.
From Aug. 1, 2014 to Aug. 31, 2014, Santa Maria had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Total Coliform Rules rule code family for the following contaminant codes: Coliform (TCR), Coliform (TCR).
Is there Lead in Santa Maria Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Santa Maria water system, Santa Maria Water Department, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Santa Maria water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Santa Maria contained more lead.
While Santa Maria water testing may have found 0.0 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Santa Maria Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Vandenberg Air Force Base - near Santa Maria with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Santa Maria has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Santa Maria SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/01/2016 - 12/31/2016 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Routine (IDSE) (30) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | TTHM (2950) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 10/01/2016 - 12/31/2016 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Routine (IDSE) (30) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) | Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) |
| 09/01/2014 - | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Source Water (GWR) (34) | Ground Water Rule (140) | E. COLI (3014) | Microbials (100) | Groundwater Rule (140) |
| 08/01/2014 - 08/31/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) (25) | Total Coliform Rule (110) | Coliform (TCR) (3100) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
| 08/01/2014 - 08/31/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) (24) | Total Coliform Rule (110) | Coliform (TCR) (3100) | Microbials (100) | Total Coliform Rules (110) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Santa Maria Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Phone: | 805-925-0951 |
| By Email: | sspringer@cityofsantamaria.org |
| By Mail: | 2065 East Main Street SANTA MARIA, CA, 93454 |
Existing customers can login to their Santa Maria Water Department account to pay their Santa Maria water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Santa Maria Water Department bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Santa Maria water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Santa Maria water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Santa Maria means you will often need to put the water in your name with Santa Maria Water Department. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Santa Maria means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Santa Maria Water Department. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.5 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Santa Maria, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Santa Maria Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Santa Maria's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
Water Supply: The City of Santa Maria (“City”) is committed to producing the
highest quality drinking water from two sources of supply: City water wells located in the Santa Maria Airport area, and State Water treated at the Polonio Pass Water Treatment Plant by the Central Coast Water Authority and delivered to the City via the Coastal Branch Aqueduct. In 2020, the City received about 43 percent of its water from the State Water Project.
Water Quality: The City routinely checks water quality from the source to your home. Please see the other side of this sheet, which summarizes test results from 2020 and shows
that the City met all State and Federal drinking water standards in 2020.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”) Safe Drinking Water Hotline
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the USEPA and the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and California law also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that provide the same protection for public health.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population.
Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline.
Source Water Assessment: A drinking water source assessment for the City was completed in March 2014. The City’s water sources were considered most vulnerable to the following activities: runoff and leaching from fertilizer use, septic tanks, sewage, and erosion of natural deposits. You may request a summary of the assessment at the City Utilities Department, 2065 East Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454, or by calling (805)
Water System Security: Multiple levels of safety are implemented
to protect the City’s drinking water system. These measures are part of ongoing operations and ensure the treatment and reliable delivery of water.
Contaminants: The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife;
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals that can be
Pesticides and herbicides that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses;
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals that are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, which may also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural applications and septic systems; and
Radioactive contaminants that can be naturally occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
About Lead: If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and plumbing. The City is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead
in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at https://epa.gov/lead.
About Nitrate: Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. Nitrate in drinking water at levels above
10 mg/L is a health risk for infants of less than six months of age. Such nitrate levels in drinking water can interfere with the capacity of the infant’s blood to carry oxygen, resulting in a serious illness; symptoms include shortness of breath and blueness of the skin. Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L may also affect the ability of the blood to carry oxygen in other individuals, such as pregnant women and those with certain specific enzyme deficiencies. If you are caring for an infant or are pregnant, you should ask advice from your health care provider.
Comments? Your comments are important to the City, and may be heard at any regular meeting of the Santa Maria City Council, on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 110 East Cook Street, Santa Maria. n
For questions related to water quality, call the Water Resources Manager at (805)
This notice is being sent to residents by the City of Santa Maria. State Water System ID#: 4210011
Date distributed: June 2021.
City of Santa Maria 2020
WATER
QUALITY
REPORT
This report provides information regarding the quality of water for the City of Santa Maria during 2020. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to State standards. Through planning and operational efficiency, the City continues to provide reliable drinking water.
2065 East Main Street • Santa Maria, CA 93454
TDD
www.cityofsantamaria.org
Este informe contiene información muy importante sobre su agua para beber. Tradúzcalo ó hable con alguien que lo entienda bien.
ABBREVIATIONS, NOTES, AND DEFINITIONS
2020 Water Quality Information Abbreviations:
AL = Regulatory Action Level
LRAA = Locational Running Annual Average
NA = Not Applicable
ND = Not Detected NL = Notification Level
NTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Units
ppb = parts per billion, or micrograms per liter (µg/L) ppm = parts per million, or milligrams per liter (mg/L) pCi/L = picocuries per liter (a measure of radioactivity) TT = Treatment Technique
µS/cm = microsiemens per centimeter (unit of specific conductance of water)
Notes:
(a) Turbidity (NTU) measures the cloudiness of the water and is a good indicator of the effectiveness of State Water filtration. The performance standard is less than 0.3 NTU in 95% of measurements taken every 15 minutes and not to exceed 1.0 NTU at any time. Turbidity as delivered is listed in the Secondary Standards.
(b) Aluminum also has a Secondary MCL of 200 ppb.
(c) Total coliform MCL: No more than 5.0% of the monthly samples may be Total Coliform positive.
(d) For fluoridated water systems,target fluoride levels are set by State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water.
(e) The City of Santa Maria reinstated adding fluoride to the water supply in August 2020.
(f) Compliance based on the locational running annual average (LRAA) of distribution system samples.
(g) Water quality information from individual wells includes samples collected from
(h) No public schools requested to be tested for lead in 2020.
Definitions:
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. Primary MCLs are set as close to the PHGs (or MCLGs) as is economically and technologically feasible. Secondary MCLs are set to protect the odor, taste, and appearance of drinking water.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that ad- dition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health.
Primary Drinking Water Standard (PDWS): MCLs, MRDLs, and treatment
techniques for contaminants that affect health, along with their monitoring and reporting requirements.
Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. PHGs are set by the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Regulatory Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
Secondary Drinking Water Standards (SDWS): MCLs for contaminants that affect taste, odor, or appearance of the drinking water. Contaminants with SDWSs do not affect your health at the MCL level.
Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Contaminants
Santa Maria Water Department
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the California State Water Resources Control Board, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 100306
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Purchased surface water
- Total: 20
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Nitrate
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
- Uranium
Other Detected Contaminants
- Chlorate
- Chromium (total)
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Molybdenum
- Monobromoacetic acid
- Strontium
- Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.