Drinking water quality · 2023

· Verified

What's in City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA tap water

20 contaminants were measured in the City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.

Reporting year
2023
Contaminants measured
20
Over federal limit
0
Approaching the limit
1
Service area
CA
state-level CCR
Source
Utility CCR

Other

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
Chlorine Total2–3.3 mg/LRangePurchased State Project WaterApproaching the limit
Chromium1.1 ug/LAverageLocal GroundwaterWithin the limit
+By source (2)Local Groundwater, Purchased State Project Water
  • Local GroundwaterPlant
    avg1.1 ug/Lrange0–1.3 ug/L1% of limit
  • Purchased State Project WaterPlant
    avg0.099 ug/Lrange0.099 ug/L0% of limit

Inorganic chemicals

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits.2.1–3.8 mg/LRangePurchased State Project WaterWithin the limit
FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay.0.86–1.2 mg/LRangePurchased State Project WaterWithin the limit

Radionuclides

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances.3.1 pCi/LAverageLocal GroundwaterWithin the limit
+By source (2)Local Groundwater, Purchased State Project Water
  • Local GroundwaterPlant
    avg3.1 pCi/Lrange0–3.4 pCi/L23% of limit
  • Purchased State Project WaterPlant
    avg3 pCi/Lrange3 pCi/L20% of limit
UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits.1.8 pCi/LAverageLocal GroundwaterDetected — no federal limit
+By source (2)Local Groundwater, Purchased State Project Water
  • Local GroundwaterPlant
    avg1.8 pCi/Lrange0–3.1 pCi/L
  • Purchased State Project WaterPlant
    avg1 pCi/Lrange1 pCi/L

Metals

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing.200 ug/L90th percentileAt the tapWithin the limit
LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures.Not detected ug/L90th percentileAt the tapWithin the limit
AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant.50 ug/LAverageLocal GroundwaterDetected — no federal limit
+By source (2)Purchased State Project Water, Local Groundwater
  • Purchased State Project WaterPlant
    avg50 ug/Lrange0–71 ug/L
  • Local GroundwaterPlant
    avg50 ug/Lrange50 ug/L
BoronA naturally occurring element from rock and soil.142 ug/LAverageLocal GroundwaterDetected — no federal limit
CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness.90–98 mg/LRangePurchased State Project WaterDetected — no federal limit
MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness.40–43 mg/LRangePurchased State Project WaterDetected — no federal limit
PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil.2.8–2.9 mg/LRangePurchased State Project WaterDetected — no federal limit
SodiumA naturally occurring salt component.53–54 mg/LRangePurchased State Project WaterDetected — no federal limit
Vanadium3.4 ug/LAverageLocal GroundwaterDetected — no federal limit

Microbial

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation.0 %RangePurchased State Project WaterNone detected

Physical & aggregate

ContaminantMeasuredStatus
AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids.148–180 mg/LRangePurchased State Project WaterDetected — no federal limit
HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals.388–420 mg/LRangePurchased State Project WaterDetected — no federal limit
pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is.7.5–8RangePurchased State Project WaterDetected — no federal limit
TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water.100 %AveragePurchased State Project WaterDetected — no federal limit
Source: City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. utility is required to publish. The numbers on this page are the utility's own. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.

People also ask about City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA's water

+Is City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA tap water safe to drink in 2023?

Every one of the 20 contaminants measured in City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.

+What contaminants are in City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA tap water?

20 contaminants were measured in City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and inorganic chemicals. 8 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.

+Are any contaminants in City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA tap water approaching the federal limit?

One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chlorine Total. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.

+Where does the data on this page come from?

Every value is transcribed from City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.

+How often is City of Santa Maria Utilities Department — Santa Maria, Ca, CA's water quality data updated?

Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.

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